DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

STATE OF ALABAMA 


HANDBOOK 

OF 

PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION 



1918 


















HANDBOOK OF 
PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION 


FOR USE IN THE SCHOOLS 
OF ALABAMA 



’Tis ours to love, His ours to serve, 
^Tis ours to cherish ever more, 

God keep it forever floating there. 
The flag above the schoolhouse door. 


ISSUED BY 

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 

July 4, 1918 


■ ROWN PRINTING CO. MONTGOMERY. 








•/^35 


ADVISORY WAR COUNCIL 
OF THE 

ALABAMA EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION 

★ ★ 

The Alabama Educational Association at its annual meet¬ 
ing in March, 1918, created an Advisory War Council with the 
following membership : 

Spright Dowell, Chairman 

C. B. Glenn. 

W. C. Griggs. 

C. W. Daugette. 

N. R. Baker. 

Special committees of the Council for the promotion of def¬ 
inite phases of war activities are as follows: 

Red Gross —N. R. Baker and J. S. Thomas. 

War Savings —C. B. Glenn and W. C. Griggs. 

Illiteracy —A. F. Harman and C. W. Daugette. 

War Garden —^W. C. Blasingame and R. E. Ledbetter. 

The function of the Council is to promote the interests of 
the schools during the period of the war, to see that the right 
emphasis is given by the schools to all worthy war activities, 
to protect the schools from exploitation by unworthy agencies, 
and to inculcate in boys and girls and in the several school 
communities a lofty type of patriotism. 

In keeping with this program, this “Handbook of Patriotic 
Instruction” has been prepared and is commended for use in 
all the elementary schools of the State. 


R. E. Ledbetter. 

A. F. Harman. 

J. S. Thomas. 

W. C. Blasingame. 


n. 

SEP 


of 

13 1918 


A WORD TO TEACHERS 

★ ★ 

N PRESENTING this bulletin to the teachers of Ala¬ 
bama, the purpose is not merely to offer material to be 
used in preparing simple patriotic programs. The 
growth and development of patriotic ideals through 
every means is the desired goal, and this can best be accom¬ 
plished through daily, systematic study. To this end we sug¬ 
gest that these selections be used regularly as supplementary 
material in Language, History, Reading, and Literature. 
Teachers should familiarize themselves with the contents so 
as to use the material in such a way as to vitalize and motivate 
the work of the classroom. 

We can do no greater service as teachers while this war is 
in progress than to help the boys and girls to appreciate the 
ideals for which our country is expending its wealth and man¬ 
hood. Upon the schools rests the responsibility of interpret¬ 
ing the meaning of this gigantic struggle to the present as 
well as to coming generations. In the midst of all the carnage 
and hate that may result as the strife continues, it is the sa¬ 
cred mission of the schools to keep ever bright the pure flame 
of patriotism. This will guarantee that our army and navy, as 
they meet the onslaughts of despotism, shall be supported by 
a united and generous people, willing to sacrifice to the utmost 
in order that the menace to democracy, both at home and 
throughout the world may be forever removed. 

It is the hope that this little bulletin will form the basis for 
much specific work along the lines suggested as well as furnish 
suitable material for patriotic exercises with which to launch 
a campaign for any of the war work activities for which sug¬ 
gestive programs are outlined. 

The preparation of the material has fallen to the lot of the 
State Department of Education, with the cooperation and 
assistance of the Advisory War Council of the Alabama Edu¬ 
cational Association. The “Handbook of Patriotic Instruc¬ 
tion'' is therefore official and is to be used and preserved care¬ 
fully and faithfully. 

SPRIGHT DOWELL, 
Superintendent of Education. 








TABLE OF CONTENTS 


★ ★ 

Page. 

Advisory War Council of the Alabama Educational Association, Membership.. 2 

Agricultural Activities for Public Schools...„123-142 

Aims of the United States, War.......... 161 

Alabama Directory of Leading Officials of War Organizations.....149-161 

American Creed .-.-...— 8 

Call to the Colors, President Bradford, National Education Association.... 7 

Conservation and Production—See Production and Conservation.114-123 

Creed, My . 8 

Directory of War Organizations, Alabama. 149-161 

Emergency War Call—Illiteracy; 

Plan and Organization.„.142-146 

Flag; 

To the Flag.-.-.. 12 

What I Am.-...-.... 18 

Flag Etiquette ...-.. 14-17 

State Law ...-.-...... 17-18 

Our Flag—Poem .- 18 

Salute to the Flag.......— 19-20 

Meaning of the Colors—Poem.— 20 

Flag Drills .,.-...-...—. 21-24 

Our Colors—Poem .:. 25 

Your Flag and My Flag—Poem..... 26 

A Prayer for the Flag of Freedom—Poem. 27 

The Meaning of the American Flag.... 27-28 

Four Minute Men, Junior—See Junior Four Minute Men.100-113 

Garden Ai-my, United States School—See United States School Garden Army.127-142 

Junior Four Minute Men: 

A Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury. 100 

A Letter from the National Director.101-102 

Two Model Speeches. 102-104 

A Plea for the Purchase of a Liberty Bond.„104-106 

Liberty Loan Essay Contest.106-106 

Famous Thrift Sayings. 106 

How Children May Save.-. 107 

Mother Goose on Conservation in War Times—Poem.108-110 

Thrift Stamps—Poem ...—.-...— 110 

The Children’s Bit—Poem.111-112 

Seven Reasons for Saving. 112 

A Parable . 113 

Pledge . 113 

Junior Red Cross: 

Letter from the State Superintendent of Education. 63-64 

Origin and Purpose. 64-66 

Rules Governing Organization. 65-68 

Scope of Membership.-.... 68-70 

Join the Junior Red Cross—An Appeal..... 70-71 

The Cross of Red—Poem.-...... 72 

The Crimson Cross—Poem... 73 

Tableaux ...-...-.-. 74 

The Red Cross—Poem. 74 

The Red Cross Spirit Speaks—Poem...— 75 

Over There—Poem .-• ... 76 

A Toast—Poem .....-. 76 

Song of the Red Cross—Poem....... 77 

The Red Cross Nurses—Poem.-.... 77 

A New Member for the Red Cross—Play. 78-80 

Open Meeting of the Girls’ Junior Red Cross—Dialogue.... 80-83 

Organization, Alabama Directory of War....149-161 

Patriotic Speeches, Recitations, and Poems: 

Why We Are Fighting Germany—Selection, President Wilson.. 81 

Why We Are Fighting Germany—Selection, Secretary Lane... 28-31 

America the Beautiful—Poem........ 32 

Our Country—Poem .-.——. 83 

Patriotism .-... 38 


































































6 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Page. 

Patriotic Speeches, Recitations, and Poems—Continued: 

America’s Future at Stake, Secretary Lansing...... 34-37 

Flag Day Address—Selection, President Wilson.-. 37-39 

The Flag on the Farm—Poem.-.— 39-40 

Why I Cannot Be a Neutral, Kellogg.-.—.- 41 

That Means You—Editorial from The Independent.,.....— 41-42 

Do Your All—Poem...-.-.... 43 

The Spirit of the Times—Poem.-.- 43-44 

Man Without a Country—Selection. Hale. 44 

Lay of the Last Minstrel—Selection, Scott...- 45 

Verdun—Poem .....-.— 46-46 

The Choice—Poem . 46 

For All We Have and Are—Poem.—.- 47 

Historic Tableaux ...-. 48 

A Letter to Mrs. Bixley of Boston, Abraham Lincoln. 48 

Little Patriots—Poem . 49 

A Patriotic Toast—Poem...... 49 

A Tribute to Woman. 60 

God Save—Keep—Hold Our Men—Song. 61 

Loyalty is the Word Today, Loyalty to the U. S. A.—Song. 62 

An Appeal to America—Play. 63-62 

Patriotic Terms Explained.146-148 


Production and Conservation : 

Production and Conservation 

Maxims on Waste... 

No Waste Pledge—Poem. 

Conservation Verses .. 

Do Not Hoard. 

Food Conservation—Play .... 

Agricultural Activities for Public Schools: 

Organization and Purpose.123-142 

Programs: 

A Patriotic Evening. 

War Savings Stamps and Liberty Loan. 

Production and Conservation. 

Red Cross . 

Red Cross, Junior—See Junior Red Cross. 

School Garden Army, United States—See United States School Garden Army. 

Some Patriotic Terms Explained. 

Stamps, War Savings—See War Savings Stamps. 

Tableaux: 

Historic . 

Red Cross ....... 

Thrift Stamps—See War Savings Stamps. 

United States School Garden Army: 

Letter of President Wilson. 

Plan ..... 

Letter and Instructions of the State Superintendenrof Educatio^^^ 

Country Girl’s Creed.. . 

Country Boy’s Creed..... 

Come Let Us Plant a Garden—Poem.."'T. 

Garden Contests ... . . 

A Gardening Song—Poem.. 

My Garden—Poem .... 

The Home Guards—Play..7.........7....... . 

A Prayer—Poem ....... 

Corn Bread—Playlet ...........7....".'.. 

Creed for Progressive Farmers.777!!!!77.7!7 77. 

The Farmer’s Part in the War.!.!.!!!!!.7.. 

War Aims of the United States. 

War Organization, Alabama Directory of. ... 

War Savings Stamps: 

Message of President Wilson. 

Letter of Chairman, National W. S. Com. 

Letter of State Director.....7!7!7..... 

Explanation .!.7!777!7!7 . ... 

Stamps Up-to-Date—Play ..7.77!777!77.. 

The Jolly Stamps—Play. ... . 

War Savings Societies, What They Are and How to Orgln^^^^^ . 

Word to Teachers, Supt. Dowell... 


9 

10 

11 

12 

. 63-83 
127-142 
146-148 
84-100 


48 

74 

84-100 


.127-128 

..128-129 

.129-131 

.131-132 

132 

133 

133 

134 
134 

.135-138 

138 

-...138-139 

.139-140 

.140-142 

149 

—149-161 


84-85 

86-86 

87- 88 

88- 90 
90-93 
94-96 

97-100 

S 


.114-115 

. 116-117 

. 118 

777777777777777777777Z77777777777777777I7777777777 120 

.-.120-123 

































































A CALL TO THE COLORS 

To the School Teachers of the United States: 

You are hereby called to the colors of the American repub¬ 
lic. The teaching force of the United States is summoned to 
serve anew in the great world crisis that is at hand. The war 
for human freedom can not be won unless the army of soldiers 
of the common good—the public school army—gives the full¬ 
est measure of sacrifice and service. Still more important, a 
new and fairer civilization will not take the place of the one 
that has broken down under the stress of conflict unless the 
molders of the soul-stuff of the world—teachers—dedicate 
themselves afresh to the mighty task of rebuilding the na¬ 
tional institutions as an expression of the highest ideal of 
humanity. 

The schools are the laboratory of good citizenship. The 
children are little citizens and must be guided in such present 
experiences as will make certain their future dedication to the 
welfare of the republic. The Junior Membership of the Red 
Cross, through the School Auxiliary, offers an unsurpassable 
medium through which the patriotic activities of the children 
can make themselves felt. Beginning with Lincoln’s Birth¬ 
day and lasting until Washington’s Birthday a nation-wide 
effort is to be made in behalf of increasing the Junior Mem¬ 
bership. This call to the colors is for your service in this cam¬ 
paign. 

The National Education Association offers every teacher 
in the land the high privilege of participation in this great 
campaign. 

You are hereby called to the Colors by all the great ideals 
through which Today is acting on Tomorrow to the end that 
Tomorrow may see the sunrise of a world life dedicated to 
straight thinking, hard work, mighty loving. 

You are called to the Colors by the Spirit of America, by 
the needs of childhood, by the Soul of Civilization. Yours is 
the privilege of sacrificing, serving, and loving. 

I salute you upon your great opportunity. I thank you for 
the way in which you are certain to rise to its farthest heights. 

Soldiers of Common Good! Rebuilders of Civilization! 
Molders of the Destiny of the World! Your task is ready. 
Assume it! 

MARY C. C. BRADFORD, 
Pres, of the Natl. Education Ass^n. 


8 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


THE AMERICAN CREED 

★ ★ 

I BELIEVE in the United States of America as a govern¬ 
ment of the people, by the people; for the people; whose just 
powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a 
democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign 
states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon 
those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity 
for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and for¬ 
tunes. 

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; 
to support its constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, 
and to defend it against all enemies .—William Tyler Page. 


★ 

★ ★ 

★ 

MY CREED 

★ 

I AM a citizen of..., Alabama, and 

the United States. It is my right and my duty to make an 
honest living, and to be comfortable and happy; my privilege 
and my duty to help others to secure these benefits. I will 
work hard and play fair; I will be kind to all, especially to little 
children, to old people, to the unfortunate and to animals. I 

will help to make......a clean, beautiful, 

law-abiding community. These are the best services I can ren¬ 
der to my community, my state and my country. 





OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


9 


Note.—The programs that follow are intended to be typical and sug¬ 
gestive, but not binding. The length, the content, and the arrangement 
should always be governed by local tradition, including the ages and abil¬ 
ities of pupils, and the lines of interests in the community. It is the 
teacher’s duty to build a program for use on special occasions that will 
secure the best results. 


A PATRIOTIC EVENING 

★ ★ 

1. Hymn. (“Onward, Christian Soldiers;’' “All Hail the 
Power of Jesus’ Name;” etc.) 

2. Invocation. 

3. Our Flag. 

4. Salute to the Flag. 

5. Meaning of the Colors. 

6. What the American Flag means. 

7. Flag Drill. 

8. Why We Are Fighting Germany—Franklin K. Lane. 

9. Our Country. 

10. Patriotism. 

11. America’s Future at Stake—Robert Lansing. 

12. Song—America. 

13. Wilson’s Flag Day Speech. 

14. The Flag on the Farm. 

15. Selection—^Woodrow Wilson. 

16. Selection—Vernon Kellog. 

17. What I as a Father am Doing to Win the War. 

18. What I as a Mother am Doing to Win the War. 

(17 and 18 are to be given by patrons of the school.) 

19. Messages from Our Soldier Boys. 

(Parts of letters from enlisted men of the community.) 

20. That Means You. 

21. Do Your All. 

22. What Can I do? 

23. Pledge. 

24. The Star Spangled Banner. 


10 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


WAR SAVINGS STAMPS AND LIBERTY LOAN 

★ ★ 

1. Songs—Dixie, and Yankee Doodle. 

2. Invocation. 

3. Recitation—Your Flag and My Flag. 

4. Our Colors. 

5. Song—Star Spangled Banner. 

6. Quotations from Man Without a Country, and Scott. 

7. Famous Thrift Sayings. 

8. Selection^—How Children May Save. 

9. Mother Goose (Rub-a-dub-dub, Sing a Song of Thrift 
Stamps, Simple Simon, When You Have Two Bits). 

10. The Children’s Bit. 

11. Seven Reasons for Saving. 

12. Pledge. 

13. Song—Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean. 

14. A Parable. 

15. Steps to Victory: 

Things we can do to win the war. 

Things we can do without to win the war. 

(These may be given by children or patrons of school.) 

16. Talk—War Savings Stamps. 

17. Play—Stamps up to Date or the Jolly Stamps. 

18. Song—Keep the Home Fires Burning. 

19. A Plea for the Purchase of a Liberty Bond. 

20. Patriotic Tableaux. 

21. Song—America. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


11 


PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION 

★ ★ 


1. Hymn. 

2. Recitation—A Prayer for the Flag of Freedom. 

3. Flag Play. 

4. Song—Star Spangled Banner. 

5. Recitation—Spirit of the Times. 

6. Maxims on Waste. 

7. Selection—Production and Conservation. 

8. Recitation—No Waste Pledge. 

9. Song by Canning Club Girls. 

10. Conservation Verses—Four or five small children. 

11. Selection—Do Not Hoard. 

12. Play—Food Conservation. 

13. Creeds: 

The Country Boy's Creed. 

The Country Girls' Creed. 

14. President Wilson's Letter. 

15. Recitation—Come, Let Us Plant a Garden. 

16. Garden Play Contest. 

17. Recitation—Gardening Song. 

18. Play—The Home Guards. 

19. Song—We Are Going to Farm by Up-to-Date Methods 
—Corn Club Boys. 

20. A Creed for Progressive Farmers. 

21. The Farmer's Part in the War. 

22. Song—America. 

Note: If the club girls or boys have had an interesting program 
lately, parts of it may be used to supplement this program which is only 
suggestive. 


12 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


THE RED CROSS 

★ ★ 


1. Song. 

2. A Letter to Mrs. Bixley of Boston. 

3. Selection—To the Boys and Girls of Alabama. 

4. Aims of American Red Cross and a Plea for Members. 

5. Song. 

6. Recitation—The Cross of Red. 

7. Recitation—The Red Cross Nurses. 

8. Song. 

9. Dialogue—A New Member for the Junior Red Cross. 

10. Recitation—The Red Cross Spirit Speaks. 

11. Song. 

12. Dialogue—An Open Meeting of Girls' Junior Red Cross. 

13. Recitation—Song of Red Cross. 

14. Summary of Junior Red Cross Work. 

15. Report of Work of Parent Chapter. 

16. Tableaux. 

17. Song. 


★★★ 

TO THE FLAG 

★ ★ 

Flag of our Fatherland, set with stars, anointed with holy 
tears of love and loss, beneath thy fluttering folds the drum¬ 
beats of our quickened hearts make answering thrill of love 
and loyalty. Beloved banner, whose red was painted in our 
fathers' blood, whose blue our hope, whose white our thought 
for thee, here and now we make again the offering of ourselves 
to thee as to a shrine. When thy hour of need shall call, take 
of us freely and the first .—Harry Johnson. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


13 


WHAT I AM 

★ ★ 

“Then came a great shout from the Flag: 

“I am not the flag not at all. I am but its shadow. 

“I am whatever you make me; nothing more. 

“I am your belief in yourself, your dream of what a people 
may become. 

“I live a changing life, a life of moods and passions, of 
heart-breaks and tired muscles. 

“Sometimes I am strong with pride, when men do an hon¬ 
est work, fitting the rails together truly. 

“Sometimes I droop, for then purpose has gone from me, 
and cynically I play the coward. 

“Sometimes I am loud, garish, and full of that ego that 
blasts judgment. 

“But always I am all that you hope to be and have the cour¬ 
age to try for. 

“I am song and fear, struggle and panic and ennobling 
hope. 

“I am the day’s work of the weakest man and the largest 
dream of the most daring. 

“I am the Constitution and the courts, statutes and the 
statute-makers, soldier and dreadnaught, drayman and street 
sweep, cook, counsellor, and clerk. 

“I am the battle of yesterday and the mistake of tomorrow. 

“I am the mystery of the men who do without knowing 
why. 

“I am the clutch of an idea and the l*easoned purpose of 
resolution. 

“I am no more than what you believe me to be and I am all 
that you believe I can be. 

“I am what you make me; nothing more. 

“I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a 
symbol of yourself, the pictured suggestion of that big thing 
which makes this nation. My stars and my stripes are your 
dream and your labors. They are bright with cheer, brilliant 
with courage, firm with faith, because you have made them so 
out of your hearts; for you are the makers of the flag and it is 
well that you glory in the making.” 


14 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


FLAG ETIQUETTE 

★ ★ 

While there is no Federal law in force pertaining to the 
manner of displaying, hanging, or saluting the United States 
flag, or prescribing any ceremonies that should be observed, 
there are many regulations and usages of national force bear¬ 
ing on the subject. 

In raising the flag it should never be rolled up and hoisted 
to the top of the staff before unfurling. Instead, the fly should 
be free during the act of hoisting, which should be done quick¬ 
ly. It should be taken in slowly and with dignity. It should 
not be allowed to touch the ground on shore, or the deck of a 
ship, nor should it be permitted to trail in the water or in the 
dust. It should not be hung where it can be contaminated or 
soiled easily, or draped over chairs or benches for seating pur¬ 
poses, and no object or emblem of any kind should be placed 
upon it or above it. 

A common but regrettable practice at public meetings is 
to drape the flag like a tablecloth over the speaker's table and 
then to place on the flag a pitcher of ice water, flowers, books, 
etc. Flags must not be used to cover a bench or a table, nor 
must they be used where anything can be placed upon them. 
Another equally careless practice and, unfortunately, quite 
common, is to tie small United States flags to the bottom of a 
stage curtain; when the curtain is raised the flags are lifted 
aloft and are effectively displayed, but when the curtain is 
lowered, so that the stage scenes may be shifted, the flags trail 
in the dust of the stage floor. 

The flag should not be festooned over doorways or arches. 
Always let the flag hang straight. Do not tie it in a bow knot 
Where colors are desired for decorative 'purposes, use red, 
'white a'ud blue buntmg. 

The flag should not be hoisted upside down, other than as a 
signal of distress at sea, when it may, if necessary to accentu¬ 
ate the distress and make it easily recognized at a distance, be 
knotted in the middle of its length, forming what is called a 
''weft.’' 

International usage forbids the display of the flag of one 
nation above that of any other while it is at peace. Such an 
act is considered an insult in times of peace, and is always fol- 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


15 


lowed by a demand for an explanation and apology. When the 
flags of two or more nations are displayed, they should be on 
separate staffs, or on separate halyards of equal size and on 
the same level. 

The flag should never be raised or lowered by any mechan¬ 
ical appliance. 

Where the national flag is displayed with State or other 
flags, it should be given the place of honor on the right. Its 
use should be confined as much as possible to its display upon 
the staff. Where used as a banner, the union should fly to the 
north in streets running east and west, and to the east in 
streets running north and south. 

Oldy fadedy or worn-out flags should not he used for ban¬ 
ners or other secondary purposes. 

When no longer fit for display, the flag should be destroyed 
privately, preferably by burning or other methods lacking sug¬ 
gestion of irreverence or disrespect. 

Over only three buildings in America does the national flag 
fly officially night and day continuously—over the east and 
west fronts of the National Capitol and over the adjacent 
House of Representatives and Senate Office Buildings. The 
two emblems over the Capitol (storm-flag size) are replaced 
every six weeks, the wear and tear, due to wind and rain, being 
excessive. 

In no case should the flag be permitted to touch the ground 
nor should it be marred by advertisements, nor desecrated on 
the stage. 

No words, figures, pictures or marks of any kind should be 
placed upon the flag. 

Whenever possible the flag should always be allowed to fly 
in the breeze from a staff or mast, but if it should be necessary 
to fasten it to the side of a building or platform, it should 
never be festooned or draped. Always hung flat. 

If hung so stripes are horizontal, stars should be in left 
upper comer. 

If hung perpendicularly, stars should be in right upper 
corner. 

If hung where it can be seen from both sides, the blue field 
should be toward the east or north. 

The correct salute to the flag, as required by the regula¬ 
tions of the United States Army, is: 


16 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Standing attention, raise the right hand to the forehead 
over the right eye, palm downward, fingers extended and close 
together, arm at an angle of forty-five degrees. Move hand 
outward about a foot, with a quick motion, then drop it to the 
side. 

When the flag is displayed at half mast, for mourning, it is 
lowered to that position from the top of the staff. It is after¬ 
ward hoisted to the top before it is finally lowered. 

Our most important holidays (when the flag should be dis¬ 
played at full staff) are: 

Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12; Washington’s Birthday, 
February 22; Memorial Day, May 30; Flag Day, June 14; 
Independence Day, July 4; Star Spangled Banner Day, Septem¬ 
ber 14, and State Day. 

(The above copy was kindly supplied by Mrs. Mayme K. 
Albaugh, State Chairman Patriotic Committee, Oregon 
Daughters of the American Revolution.) 

The flag should be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. 
It may be raised at other times, but should never be left out at 
night, except when it is under the fire of an enemy. 

On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff 
from sunrise until noon, and at the peak from noon until 
sunset. 

In raising the flag to half-staff or half-mast it should al¬ 
ways be run to the peak and then lowered one^breadth of the 
flag. In retiring it, it should first be run back to the peak and 
then retired. It should never be allowed to touch the ground. 

When the “Star Spangled Banner” is played or sung, stand 
and remain standing, in silence, until it is finished. 

When the flag is passing on parade, or in review, if you are 
walking, halt; if sitting, rise, stand at attention and uncover. 

The flag should never be worn as the whole or part of a 
costume. As a badge it should be worn over the left breast. 

When the National flag and another flag fly from same pole 
there should be double halyards, one for each flag. 

The flag should never be placed below a person sitting. 

When carried in parade, or when crossed with other flags, 
the Stars and Stripes should always be at right. 

When the flag is used in unveiling a statue or monument k 
should not be allowed to fall to the ground, but should be car¬ 
ried aloft to wave out, forming a distinctive feature iluring the 
remainder of the ceremony. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


17 


When the flag is placed over a bier or casket the blue field 
should be at the head. 

As an altar covering, the union should be at the right as 
you face the altar, and nothing should be placed upon the flag 
except the Holy Bible. 

The flag should never be reversed except in case of distress 
at sea. 

Explanation of Terms 

To “strike the flag” is to lower the national colors in token 
of submission to the opposing forces. 

Dipping the flag is lowering it slightly and then hoisting it 
again, to salute either a vessel or fort. 

To hang at “half staff” or “half mast” is to lower flag be¬ 
low the top of the staff or mast, not necessarily half way down. 

No. 381. AN ACT (H. 256—Shapiro. 

To prevent and punish the desecration, mutilation, or improper use of the 
flag of the United States of America or the State of Alabama or the 
Confederate flag or ensign. 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama: 

Section 1. Any person who in any manner, for exhibition or display, 
shall place or cause to be placed, any word, flgure, mark, picture, design, 
drawing, or any advertisement, of any nature, upon any flag, standard, 
color, or ensign of the United States, or State flag of this State, or en¬ 
sign, or the Confederate flag or ensign, or shall expose or cause to be 
exposed to public view, any such flag, standard, color, or ensign, upon 
which shall have been printed, painted, or otherwise placed, or to which 
shall be attached, appended, affixed or annexed, any word, flgure, mark, 
picture, design, or drawing, or any advertisement of any nature, or who 
shall expose to public view, manufacture, sell, expose for sale, give away, 
or have in possession for the sale, or to give away, or for use for any 
purpose, any article, or substance, being an article of merchandise, or a 
receptacle of merchandise, or article or thing for carrying or transport¬ 
ing merchandise, upon which shall have been printed, painted, attached, 
or otherwise placed, a representation of any such flag, standard, color, or 
ensign, to advertise, call attention to, decorate, mark, or distinguish, the 
article, or substance, on which so placed, or who shall publicly mutilate, 
deface, defile, or defy, trample upon, or cast contempt, either by words or 
act, upon any such flag, standard, color, or ensign, shall be deemed guilty 
of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hun¬ 
dred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, 
vfliTbe discretion of the court and shall also forfeit a penalty of fifty dol¬ 
lars for each such offense.'to be recovered with costs in a civil action, or 
suit; in any court having jurisdiction, and such action or suit may be 
brousrht by and in the name of auv ci+^zen of this State, and such penalty 
when collected less the reasonable cost and expense of action or suit atid 
recovery to be certified by the probate judge of the county in which the 


18 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


offense is committed shall be paid into the treasury of this State; and 
two or more penalties may be sued for and recovered in the same action 
or suit. The words “flag, standard, color or ensign,” as used in this sub¬ 
division or section, shall include any flag, standard, color, ensign, or any 
picture or representation, of either thereof, made of any substance, or 
represented on any substance, and of any size, evidently purporting to be, 
either of, said flag, standard, color or ensign of the United States of 
America, or the Confederate flag or ensign, of a picture or a representa¬ 
tion, of either thereof, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars 
and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or by which the person 
seeing the same, without deliberation may believe same to represent the 
flag, colors, standard, or ensign, of the United States of America or the 
Confederate flag or ensign. The possession by any person, other than a 
public officer, as such, of any such flag, standard, color or ensign, on 
which shall be anything made unlawful at any time by this section, or of 
any article or substance or thing on which shall be anything made unlaw¬ 
ful at any time by this section, shall be presumptive evidence that the 
same is in violation of this section, and was made, done or created, and 
that such flag, standard, color, ensign, or article, substance, or thing, did 
not exist when this act takes effect. 

Section 2. This act shall not apply to any act permitted by the stat¬ 
utes of the United States of America or by the United States army and 
navy regulations, nor shall it be construed to apply to a newspaper, peri¬ 
odical, book, pamphlet, circular, certificate, diploma, warrant or commis¬ 
sion of appointment to office, ornamental picture, article of jewelry, or 
stationery for use in correspondence, on any of which shall be printed^ 
painted or placed, said flag, disconnected from any advertisement. 

Approved September 4, 1915. 


★★★ 


OUR FLAG 

★ 

Flag of the sun that shines for all, 
Flag of the breeze that blows for all. 
Flag of the sea that flows for all, 
Flag of the land that stands for all. 
Flag of the people, one and all. 

Hail, Flag of Liberty, all hail! 

Hail, glorious years to come. 


OP PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


19 


SALUTE TO THE FLAG 

4 ★ ★ 

There are two forms of salutes, or pledges, given as fol¬ 
lows: 

1. When the salute is to be given, at a signal all the pupils 
rise. The one who has been selected for color-bearer then 
brings the flag to the front, and after it is in place, at a sign 
from the teacher the pupils raise their right hands, palms 
downward, to a level with their foreheads, and repeat in con¬ 
cert this pledge: 

‘T pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for 
which it stands—one nation, indivisible, with liberty and jus¬ 
tice for all.'’ 

At the words “to my flag” everyone will extend his right, 
palm upward, toward the flag, and hold it there till the pledge 
is given, then lower it to the side. 

2. The silent salute is as follows: At a signal from the 
teacher, as the flag reaches its station by the teacher's desk, 
each one will raise his hand, palm downward, to a horizontal 
position, tip of fore finger touching the forehead, and hold it 
there while the flag is “dipped” and returned to a vertical posi¬ 
tion. Then at a second signal the hand is lowered to the side. 
This silent salute corresponds very nearly to the military and 
naval salute to the flag. 

Some have thought that in schools where the children are 
too young to understand the meaning of the words “allegi¬ 
ance” and “indivisible” a simpler form of the pledge should be 
given, as follows: 

“I give my head and my heart to God and my Country,— 
One Country, One Language, One Flag.” 

After the color-bearer has brought forth the flag, at a sig¬ 
nal from the teacher each pupil will stand erect in his place 
and give the pledge and salute in this manner: 

1. Extend right arm and point toward flag. 

2. Bring tips of fingers to forehead, saying, “I give my 
head.” 

3. Bring hand over heart, saying, “and my heart.” 

4. Raise hand, point and look upward, saying, “to God.” 

5. Drop hand to side, saying, “and my Country.” 

6. Standing erect, repeat, “One Country, One Language, 
One Flag.” 


20 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


7. When saying, ‘‘One Flag,” advance right foot, bend body 
slightly forward, extend arm and point to flag. 

8, Assume erect position. 

The effectiveness of the flag salute depends upon the spirit 
in which it is given, and this spirit must depend very much, as 
all school exercises do, upon the spirit of the teacher. If this 
is done in the spirit of true patriotism, it will beget in the 
hearts of the pupils a love for the stars and stripes and all they 
symbolize. 

Flag Salute 

Flag of our great republic, symbol of human liberty, whose 
stars and stripes stand for courage, purity and union, we 
salute thee, pledging our lives and sacred honor to guard and 
revere thee forever. 


★★★ 

MEANING OF THE COLORS 

Red from the leaves of the autumn woods 
Of our frost-kissed northern hills; 

Red, to show that patriot blood 
Is beating now in a hurrying flood 
In hearts American! • 

White, from the fields -of stainless drift 
On our wide-stretching plains; 

White, to show that pure as snow 
We believe the Christ light yet shall'glow 
In souls American! 

Blue, from the arch of the winter sky, 

O’er our fatherland outspread; 

Blue, to show that wide as heaven 
Shall justice to all men be given 
At hands American! 

Red, white, and blue, the light of stars 
Through our holy colors shine; 

Love, truth, and justice,—virtues three 
That bloom in the land of liberty. 

In homes American! 


— Selected. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


21 


FLAG DRILL 

★ 

By Alice Fuller. 

(An exercise for Twelve Girls and Six Boys.) 

The girls should be dressed in white, each carrying a flag in 
the right hand, well up against the shoulder. 

Pictures of Washington and Wilson should be placed at the 
rear of the stage, with arrangements for the placing of flags, 
as given in Fig. 7 of the diagrams. If properly arranged this 
makes a pleasing permanent decoration. 

Enter six from each side, at the rear of the stage, and pass 
down the sides to the front, flags at shoulders. Halt. 

Face centre of stage. (Two counts.) Face pictures of the 
patriots (two counts). 

Salute patriots. Place left hand on staff, just below the 
flag (two counts), bring flag around perpendicularly before 
the face (two counts), retain this position (four counts). 

Shoulder flags. Place flags back at shoulder (two counts), 
drop left hand at side (two counts). 

Salute opposite lines. Shoulder flags. Turn to front.' Sa¬ 
lute audience. Shoulder flags. 

Swing in circular lines to the front of the stage (Fig. 1), 
and once more salute audience. Shoulder flags. 

Each alternate one in line, taking the odd numbers, step 
back two paces. 

Front line face right. Rear line face left. 

(Fig. 2) Raise flags. 

March twice across the stage, in the form of an oblong, 
halting at former places. (Fig. 3.) 

Flags at shoulders. 

Rear line step forward into line with others, making a long 
line across the front of the stage. 

Separate at centre, march right and left across the front, 
up the sides, across the back in a long line, and twelve abreast 
down toward the front to the middle of the stage. (Fig. 4.) 


22 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Separate at centre and march in straight lines toward 
front, forming V. (Fig. 5.) 

About face (swing about, using the right heel as a pivot). 

Salute patriots. 

Shoulder flags. About face. 

March to front of stage. The odd numbers in the line step 
backward two paces as in Fig. 2. All face left. March by twos 
across the front, up the sides, across the back to the centre, 
and down the centre, still in a double line, with flags crossed 
on high, forming a long arch. (Fig. 6.) 

The two last in line take down flags to shoulder, pass 
through the arch to the front of the stage, separate to right 
and left, march across the front, up the sides to the back, and 
across the back of the stage until points 1 and 2 in Fig. 7 are 
reached. The flags are slipped into place in the form given in 
Fig. 7. From here they pass across to the opposite side, and 
down the side to make room for the others who immediately 
follow. 

The second couple follow, placing flags at 3 and 4; the third 
couple placing them at 5 and 6; the fourth couple at 7 and 8; 
the fifth, at 9 and 10. The remaining couple, as soon as the 
fifth have passed through, step backward to 11 and 12, where 
they place their flags, then march to front at centre, where the 
others swing into line with them (Fig. 9). 

Each alternate child steps forward two paces, to break the 
stiffness of the lines, and all sing some flag song. 

Exit to right and left. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION 


23 


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24 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


FLAG PLAY 

The youngest Primary children may be supplied with small 
United States flags. These are waved to the actions given be¬ 
low while the lines are recited. 

(1) Pretty bright flags have we, 

Waving on (2) high, 

(3) Up they go, (4) down they go. 

Now they are (5) nigh; 

Now they are (6) far away. 

Now they are (7) near. 

Now they point (8) upwards. 

To skies bright and clear. 

(9) Under and (10) over so, 

(11) 'Above and (12) below, 

(13) Backwards and (14) forwards 
Our bright banners go. 

We've red, white, and blue. 

And they're pretty flags, too. 

(15) Look here at us 

And we'll show them to you. 

Hurrah for our play time! 

We children like fun. 

And yet we are sorry. 

When lessons are done. 


★★★ 

Motions: 

(1) Flags held up. 

(2) Wave above head. 

(3) Raise arm above head. 

(4) Let arm drop and point flag to floor. 

(5) Bring flag in front near body. 

(6) Stretch out arm in front at right angle to body. 

(7) Bring in front again near body, and show that ‘‘Nigh" 
and “Near" have some meaning. 

(8) Stretch far above head. 

(9) Under chin.' 

(10) Over head. 

(11) Left hand held out in front, flag placed above head. 

(12) Flag placed below hand to front of body, then (13) 
and (14) bring flag smartly behind, alternating forwards and 
backwards. 

(15) Present flags. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


26 


OUR COLORS 

(Exercise for three pupils, suitably dressed.) 

Red! 'tis the hue of the battle, 

The pledge of victory; 

In sunset light, in northern night, 

It flashes brave and free. 

“Then paint with red thy banner,” 

Quoth Freedom to the land, 

“And when thy sons go forth to war. 
This sign be in their hand.” 

White! Tis the sign of purity. 

Of everlasting truth; 

The snowy robe of childhood, 

The stainless mail of youth, 

Then paint with white thy banner. 

And pure as northern snow 
May these thy stately children 
In truth and honor go. 

Blue! ’tis the tint of heaven, 

The morning’s gold-shot arch. 

The burning deeps of noontide. 

The stars’ unending march. 

Then paint with blue the banner 
And bid thy children raise 
At daybreak, noon, and eventide 
Their hymn of love and praise. 

All: 

Valor and truth and righteousness. 

In threefold strength today 
Raise high the flag triumphant. 

The banner glad and gay, 

“And keep thou well thy colors,” 

Quoth Freedom to the land, 

“And ’gainst a world of evil 
Thy sons and thou shall stand.” 

—Laura E. Richards, 
in The Youth’s Companion. 


26 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 



YOUR FLAG AND MY FLAG 

★ ★ 

Your flag and my flag, 

And how it flies today, 

In your land and my land 
And half a world away! 

Rose-red and blood-red 
The stripes forever gleam. 
Snow-white and soul-white. 

The good forefathers' dream. 
Sky-blue and true-blue, 

With stars to gleam aright— 
The gloried guidon of the day, 

A shelter through the night. 


Your flag and my flag! 

And, oh, how much it holds— 

Your land and my land— 

Secure within its folds! 

Your heart and my heart 
Beat quicker at the sight; 
Sun-kissed and wind-tossed— 

Red and blue and white; 

The one flag—the great flag— 

The flag for me and you 
Glorifled all else beside— , 

The red and white and blue! 

—Wilbur D. Nesbit. 




OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


27 


A PRAYER FOR THE FLAG OF FREEDOM 
★ ★ 

God of the sons of Freedom, 

God of the sons of war, 

God in whose praise our swords we raise. 

For liberty and law. 

Defend the Flag of Freedom, 

Its stars and stripes unfurled. 

Mean death and woe to the tyrant foe. 

And Freedom for the world. 

Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! 

Freedom by land and sea, 

Youg flag and mine, by right divine. 

Is the flag of Liberty. 

We strike for the rights of nations. 

For the small as for the great. 

We flght for the right; and the God of might 
Will seal the tyrant's fate. 

Marching, each man is marching. 

With glory in his face. 

Bearing the gift of Freedom 
To all the human race. 

Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! 

Freedom by land and sea. 

Your flag and mine, by right divine. 

Is the flag of Liberty. 

— Selected. 

★★★ 

THE MEANING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG 

★ ★ 

The American flag means, then, all that the fathers meant 
in the Revolutionary war; it means all that the Declaration of 
Independence meant; it means all that the constitution of a 
people, organizing for justice, for liberty, and for happiness 
meant. 

The American flag carries American ideas, American his¬ 
tory, and American feelings. 

Beginning with the colonies and coming down to our time, 
in its sacred heraldry, in its glorious insignia, it has gathered 


28 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


and stored chiefly this supreme idea; divine right of liberty in 
man. 

Every color means liberty, every thread means liberty, 
ever3r form of star and beam of light means liberty—liberty 
through law, and laws for liberty. Accept it, then, in all its 
fullness of meaning. It is not a painted rag. It is a whole 
national history. It is the constitution. It is the government. 
It is the emblem of the sovereignty of the people. It is the 
nation .—Henry Ward Beecher. 

★★★ 

WHY WE ARETIGHTING GERMANY 

★ ★ 

Why are we fighting Germany ? The brief answer is that 
ours is a war of self-defense. We did not wish to fight Ger¬ 
many. She made the attack upon us; not on our shores, but 
on our ships, our lives, our rights, our future. For two years 
and more we held to a neutrality that made us apologists for 
things which outraged man's common sense of fair play and 
humanity. At each new offense—the invasion of Belgium, the 
killing of civilian Belgians, the attacks on Scarborough and 
other defenseless towns, the laying of mines in neutral waters, 
the fencing off of the seas—and on and on through the months 
we said: “This is a war-archaic, uncivilized war, but war! All 
rules have been thrown away; all nobility; man has come down 
to the primitive brute. And while we cannot justify we will 
not intervene. It is not our war." 

Then why are we in ? Because we could not keep out. The 
invasion of Belgium, which opened the war, led to the invasion 
of the United States by slow, steady, logical steps. Our sym¬ 
pathies evolved into a conviction of self-interest. Our love of 
fair play ripened into alarm at our own peril. , 

And so we came into this war for ourselves. It is a war to 
save America—to preserve self-respect, to justify our right to 
live as we have lived, not as some one else wishes us to live. 
In the name of freedom we challenge with ships and men, 
money, and an undaunted spirit, that word “Verboten" which 
Germany has written upon the sea and upon the land. 

We Fight Germany— 

Because of Belgium—invaded, outraged, enslaved, impov¬ 
erished Belgium. We cannot forget Liege, Louvain, and Car- 


OF PATRIOTIC NSTIRUCTION. 


29 


dinal Mercier. Translated into terms of American history, 
these names stand for Bunker Hill, Lexington, and Patrick 
Henry. 

Because of France—invaded, desecrated France, a million 
of whose heroic sons have died to save the land of Lafayette. 
Glorious golden France, the preserver of the arts, the land of 
noble spirit—the first land to follow our lead into republican 
liberty. 

Because of England—from whom came the laws, tradi¬ 
tions, standards of life, and inherent love of liberty, which we 
call Anglo-Saxon civilization. We defeated her once upon the 
land and once upon the sea. But Australia, New Zealand, 
Africa, and Canada are free because of what we did. And they 
are with us in the fight for the freedom of the seas. 

Because of other peoples, with their rising hope that the 
world may be freed from government by the soldier. 

We are fighting Germany because she sought to terrorize 
us and then to fool us. We could not believe that Germany 
would do what she said she would do upon the seas. 

We still hear the piteous cries of children coming up out 
of the sea where the Lusitania went down. And Germany has 
never asked forgiveness of the world. 

We saw the Sussex sunk, crowded with the sons and daugh¬ 
ters of neutral nations. 

We saw ship after ship sent to the bottom—ships of mercy 
bound out of America for the Belgian starving; ships carry¬ 
ing the Red Cross and laden with the wounded of all nations; 
ships carrying food and clothing to friendly, harmless, terror¬ 
ized peoples; ships flying the Stars and Stripes—sent to the 
bottom hundreds of miles from shore, manned by American 
seamen, murdered against all law, without warning. 

We believed Germany’s promise that she would respect the 
neutral flag and the rights, and we held our anger and outrage 
in check. But now we see that she was holding us olf with fair 
promises until she could build her huge fleet of submarines. 
For when spring came she blew her promise into the air, just 
as at the beginning she had torn up that ''scrap of paper.” 
Then we say clearly that there was but one law for Germany— 
her will to rule. 

We are fighting Germany because she violated our confi¬ 
dence. Paid German spies filled our cities. Officials of her 
government, received as the guests of this Nation, lived with 


80 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


US to bribe and terrorize, defying our law and the law of 
nations. 

We are fighting Germany because while we were yet her 
friends—the only great power that still held hands off—she 
sent the Zimmerman note, calling to her aid Mexico, our south¬ 
ern neighbor, and hoping to lure Japan, our western neighbor^ 
into war against this Nation of peace. 

We are fighting Germany because in this war feudalism is 
making its last stand against oncoming democracy. We see 
it now. This is a war against an old spirit, an ancient, out¬ 
worn spirit. It is a war against feudalism—the right of the 
castle on the hill to rule the village below. It is a war for 
democracy—the right of all to be their own masters. Let Ger¬ 
many be feudal if she will, but she must not spread her system 
over the world that has outgrown it. Feudalism plus science, 
thirteenth century plus twentieth—this is the religion of the 
mistaken Germany that has linked itself with the Turk; that 
has, too, adopted the method of Mahomet. “The state has no 
conscience.” “The state can do no wrong.” With the spirit of 
the fanatic she believes this gospel and that it is her duty to 
spread it by force. With poison gas that makes living a hell, 
with submarines that sneak through the seas to slyly murder 
noncombatants, with dirigibles that bombard men and women 
while they sleep, with a perfected system of terrorization that 
the modern world first heard of when German troops entered 
China, German feudalism is making war upon mankind. Let 
this old spirit of evil have its way and no man will live in 
America, without paying toll to it in manhood and in money. 
This spirit might demand Canada from a defeated, navyless 
England, and then our dream of peace on the north would be 
at an end. We would live, as France has lived for forty years, 
in haunting terror. 

America speaks for the world in fighting Germany. Mark 
on a map those countries which are Germany’s allies and you 
will mark but four, running from the Baltic through Austria 
and Bulgaria to Turkey. All the other nations the whole globe 
around are in arms against her or are unable to move. There 
is deep meaning in this. We fight with the world for an hon¬ 
est world in which nations keep their word, for a world in 
which nations do not live by swagger or by threat, for a world 
in which men think of the ways in which they can conquer the 
common cruelties of nature instead of inventing more horrible 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTON.I 


31 


•cruelties to inflict upon the spirit and body of man, for a world 
in which the ambition or the philosophy of a few shall not 
make miserable all mankind, for a world in which the man is 
held more precious than the machine, the system, or the state. 
—Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of. the Interior. 

; We fight for the things which we have always carried near- 
' est our hearts—^for democracy, for the right of those who sub¬ 
mit to an authority to have a voice in their own governments, 
for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal 
dominion of right by such a concert of free people as shall 
bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself 
at last free. 

To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, 
everything that we are and everything that we have with the 
pride of those who know that the day has come when America 
is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the princi¬ 
ples that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which 
^he has treasured.— Woodi'ow Wilson. 


32 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL 

★ ★ 

0 beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 
Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 

God shed His grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 


0 beautiful for pilgrim feet. 

Whose stern impassioned stress 
A thoroughfare for freedom beat 
Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God mend thine every flaw. 

Confirm thy soul in self-control, 

Thy liberty in law! 

) 

0 beautiful for heroes proved 
In liberating strife. 

Who more than self their country loved, 
And mercy more than life! 

America! America! 

May God thy gold refine. 

Till all success be nobleness. 

And every gain divine! 

0 beautiful for patriot dream 
That sees beyond the years 
Thine alabaster cities gleam. 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! ^ 

God shed His grace on thee 
And crown thy good with brotherhood 
From sea to shining sea! 

—Katherine Lee Bates. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


33 


OUR COUNTRY 

¥ ^ 

We love this blessed land of ours, 

Oh fair land, oh free land! 

Its wealth of trees and fruits and flowers. 

Oh fair land, oh free land! 

Its mountains reaching toward the sky. 

Its noble rivers rushing by. 

Its fields that clad in verdure lie. 

Oh fair land, oh free land! 

Its sons and daughters love it well. 

Oh fair land, oh free land! 

Here rich and poor in safety dwell. 

Oh fair land, oh free land! 

Oh! where in all the earth is found 
A country where more gifts abound? 

We children love its praise to sound. 

Oh fair land, oh free land! 

—Laura Frost Armitage. 

★★★ 

PATRIOTISM 

★ 

(To be recited by three boys.) 

To be a patriot is to love one's country; it is to be ready 
and willing, if need comes, to die for the country, as a good 
seaman would to save his ship and his crew. 

Yes! To love our country, to work so as to make it strong 
and rich, to support its government, to obey its laws, to pay 
fair taxes into the treasury, to treat our fellow citizens as we 
love to be treated ourselves—this is to be good American patri¬ 
ots.— Dole. 

Every good citizen makes his country's honor his own, and 
cherishes it not only as precious, but as sacred. He is willing 
to risk his life in its defense, and is conscious that he gains 
protection while he gives it.— A^idrew Jackson. 


34 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


If we are true to our country in our day and generation and 
those that come after us shall be true to it also, assuredly we 
elevate her to a pitch of prosperity and happiness, of honor 
and power, never yet reached by any nation beneath the sun.— 
Anon. 

SELECTED FROM “AMERICA’S FUTURE AT STAKE” 

★ ★ 

By Robert Lansing^ Secretary of State 
We must all realize that we are living in the most momen¬ 
tous time in all history, in a time when the lives and destinies 
of nations are in the balance, when even the civilization, which 
has taken centuries to build, may crumble before the terrible 
storm which is sweeping over Europe. We are not only living 
in this critical period but we, as a nation, have become a par¬ 
ticipant in the struggle. We intend to win in this mighty con¬ 
flict, and we will win because our cause is the cause of justice 
and of right and of humanity. 

Of course, the immediate cause of our war against Ger¬ 
many was the announced purpose of the German government 
to break its promises as to indiscriminate submarine warfare 
and the subsequent renewal of that ruthless method of de¬ 
struction with increased vigor and brutality. 

While this cause was in itself sufficient to force us to enter 
the war if we would preserve our self-respect, the German gov¬ 
ernment’s deliberate breach of faith and its utter disregard of 
right and life had a far deeper meaning. The evil character of 
the German government is laid bare before the world. We 
know now that that government is inspired with ambitions 
which menace human liberty, and that to gain its ends it does 
not hesitate to break faith, to violate the most sacred rights, 
or to perpetrate intolerable acts of inhumanity. 

It needed but the words reported to have been uttered by 
the German chancellor to complete the picture of the character 
of his government when he announced that the only reason 
why the intensified submarine campaign was delayed until 
February last was that sufficeint submarines could not be 
built by that time to make the attacks on commerce effective. 
Do you realize that this means, if it means anything, that the 
promises to refrain from brutal submarine warfare, which 
Germany had made to the United States, were never intended 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


35 


to be kept, that they were only made in order to gain time in 
which to build more submarines, and that when the time came 
to act the German promises were unhesitatingly torn to pieces 
like other “scraps of paper.’^ 

Not impulsively but with deliberation the American people 
reached the only decision which was possible from the stand¬ 
point of their own national safety. Congress declared that a 
state of war existed between the United States and the Impe¬ 
rial Government of Germany, and this country united with the 
other liberal nations of the earth to crush the power which 
sought to erect on the ruins of democracy a world empire 
greater than that of Greece or Rome or the caliphs. 

The President has said that “the world must be made safe 
for democracy.” In that thought there is more than the estab¬ 
lishment of liberty and self-government for all nations—there 
is in it the hope of an enduring peace. 

I do not know in the annals of history an instance where a 
people, with truly democratic institutions, permitted their 
government to wage a war of aggression, a war of conquest. 
Were every people on earth able to express their will, there 
would be no wars of aggression, and if there were no wars of 
aggression, then there would be no wars, and lasting peace 
would come to this earth. The only way that a people can 
express their will is through democratic institutions. There¬ 
fore, when the world is made safe for democracy, when that 
great principle prevails, universal peace will be an accom¬ 
plished fact. 

In spite of the truths which have been brought to light in 
these last three years I wonder how many Americans feel that 
our democracy is in peril, and that our liberty needs protec¬ 
tion, that the United States is in real danger from the malig¬ 
nant forces which are seeking to impose their will upon the 
world, as they have upon Germany and her deceived allies. 

Let us understand once for all that this is no war to estab¬ 
lish an abstract principle of right. It is a war in which the 
future of the United States is at stake. If any among you has 
the idea that we are fighting others' battles and not our own, 
the sooner he gets away from that idea the better it will be for 
him, the better it will be for all of us. 

Imagine Germany victor in Europe because the United 
States remained neutral. Who then, think you, would be the 
next victim of those who are seeking to be masters of the 


36 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


whole earth? Would not this democracy be the only obstacle 
between the autocratic rulers of Germany and their supreme 
ambition ? Do you think that they would withhold their hand 
from so rich a prize ? 

Primarily, then, every man who crosses the ocean to fight 
on foreign soil against the armies of the German Emperor 
goes forth to fight for his country and for the preservation of 
those things for which our forefathers were willing to die. To 
those who thus offer themselves we owe the same debt that we 
owe to those men who in the past fought on American soil in 
the cause of liberty. No, not the same debt, but a greater one. 
It calls for more patriotism, more self-denial, and a truer 
vision to wage war on distant shores than to repel an invader 
or defend one’s home. 

I know that some among you may consider the idea that 
Germany would attack us, if she won this war, to be improba¬ 
ble; but let him who doubts remember that the improbable, 
yes, the impossible, has been happening in this war from the 
beginning. If you had been told prior to August, 1914, that 
the German government would disregard its solemn treaties 
and send its armies into Belgium, would wantonly burn Lou¬ 
vain, would murder defenseless people, would extort ransoms 
from conquered cities, would carry away men and women into 
slavery, would destroy some of history’s most cherished mon¬ 
uments, and would with malicious purpose lay waste the fair¬ 
est fields of France and Belgium, you would have indignantly 
denied the possibility. Today you know that the unbelievable 
has happened, that all these crimes have been committed, not 
under the impulse of passion, but under official orders. 

Again, if you had been told before the war that German 
submarine commanders would sink peaceful vessels of com¬ 
merce and send to sudden death men, women, and little chil¬ 
dren, you would have declared such scientific brutality to be 
impossible. Or, if you had been told that German aviators 
would fly over thickly populated cities scattering missiles of 
death and destruction with no other purpose than to terrorize 
the innocent inhabitants, you would have denounced the very 
thought as unworthy of belief, and as a calumny upon German 
honor. Yet, God help us, these things have come to pass, and 
iron crosses have rewarded the perpetrators. 

But there is more, far more, which might be added to this 
record of unbelievable things which the German government 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


37 


has done. I need only to mention the attempt of the foreign 
office at Berlin to bribe Mexico to make war upon us by prom¬ 
ising her American territory. It was only one of many in¬ 
trigues which the German government was carrying on in 
many lands. Spies and conspirators were sent throughout the 
world. Civil discord was encouraged to weaken the potential 
strength of nations which might be obstacles to the lust of 
Germany's rulers for world mastery. Those of German blood 
who owed allegiance to other countries were appealed to 
to support the fatherland, which beloved name masked the 
military clique at Berlin. 

The day has gone by when we can measure possibilities by 
past experiences or when we believe that any physical obstacle 
is so great or any moral influence is so potent as to cause the 
German autocracy to abandon its mad purpose of world con¬ 
quest. For its own safety, as well as for the cause of human 
liberty, this great republic is marshaling its armies and pre¬ 
paring with all its vigor to aid in ridding Germany, as well as 
the world, of the most ambitious and most unprincipled au¬ 
tocracy which has arisen to stay the wheels of progress and 
imperil Christian civilization. 

★★★ 

SELECTED FROM PRESIDENT WILSON’S FLAG DAY 
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT WASHINGTON, 

JUNE 14, 1918 

★ ★ 

It is plain enough how we were forced into the war. The 
extraordinary insults and aggressions of the Imperial Ger¬ 
man Government left us no self-respecting choice but to take 
up arms in defense of our rights as a free people and of our 
honor as a sovereign government. The military masters of 
Germany denied us the right to be neutral. 

The war was begun by these masters, who proved to be 
also the masters of Austria-Hungary. These men have never 
regarded nations as peoples, men, women, and children of like 
blood and frame as themselves, for whom governments existed 
and in whom governments had their life. They have regarded 
them merely as serviceable organizations which they could by 
force or intrigue bend or corrupt to their own purpose. 


38 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Their plan was to throw a broad belt of German military- 
power and political control across the very centre of Europe 
and beyond the Mediterranean into the heart of Asia; and 
Austria-Hungary was to be as much their tool and pawn as 
Servia or Bulgaria or Turkey or the ponderous states of the 
east. The dream had its heart at Berlin. It could have had a 
heart nowhere else! It rejected the idea of solidarity of race 
entirely. The choice of the peoples played no part in it at all. 
It contemplated binding together racial and political units 
which could be kept together only by force. 

And they have actually carried the greater part of that 
amazing plan into execution! Look how the things stand. 
Austria is at their mercy. It has acted, not upon its own ini¬ 
tiative or upon the choice of its own people, but at Berlin^s 
dictation ever since the war began. Its people now desire 
peace, but cannot have it until leave is granted from Berlin. 
The so-called Central Powers are in fact but a single power. 
Servia is at its mercy, should its hands be but for a moment 
freed. Bulgaria has consented to its will, and Roumania is 
overrun. The Turkish armies, which Germans trained, are 
serving Germany, certainly not themselves, and the guns of 
German warships lying in the harbor at Constantinople remind 
Turkish statesmen every day that they have no choice but to 
take their orders from Berlin. 

Is it not easy to understand the eagerness for peace that 
has been manifested from Berlin ever since the snare was set 
and sprung ? Peace, peace, peace has been the talk of her for¬ 
eign office for now a year and more; not peace upon her own 
initiative, but upon the initiative of the nations over which she 
now deems herself to hold the advantage. A little of the talk 
has been public, but most of it has been private. Through all 
sorts of channels it has come to me, and in all sorts of guises, 
but never with the terms disclosed which the German govern¬ 
ment would be willing to accept. That government has other 
valuable pawns in its hands besides those I have mentioned. It 
still holds a valuable part of France, though with slowly relax¬ 
ing grasp, and practically the whole of Belgium. It cannot go 
further; it dare not go back. 

The military masters under whom Germany is bleeding see 
very clearly to what point fate has brought them. If they fall 
back or are forced back an inch, their power both abroad and 
at home will fall to pieces like a house of cards. It is their 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


39 


power at home they are thinking about now more than their 
power abroad. It is that power which is trembling under their 
very feet; and deep fear has entered their hearts. If they can 
secure peace now with the immense advantages still in their 
hands which they have up to this point apparently gained, 
they will have justified themselves before the German people; 
they will have gained by force what they promised to gain by 
it; an immense expansion of German power, an immense en¬ 
largement of German industrial and commercial opportunities. 
Their prestige will be secure, and with their prestige their 
political power. If they fail, their people will thrust them 
aside; a government accountable to the people, themselves, 
will be set up in Germany as it has been in England, in the 
United States, in France, and in all the great countries of mod¬ 
ern time except Germany. 

For us there is but one choice. We have made it. Woe be 
to the man or group of men that seeks to stand in our way in 
this day of high resolution when every principle we hold dear¬ 
est is to be vindicated and made secure for the salvation of the 
nations. We are ready to plead at the bar of history, and our 
flag shall wear ^ new lustre. Once more we shall make good 
with our lives and fortunes the great faith to which we were 
born, and a new glory shall shine in the face of our people. 

¥¥¥ 

THE FLAG ON THE FARM 

¥ ¥ 

WeVe raised a flagpole on the farm 
And flung Old Glory to the sky. 

And it’s another touch of charm 
That seems to cheer the passer-by. 

But more than that, no matter where 
We’re laboring, in wood and field. 

We turn and see it in the air. 

Our promise of a greater yield 
It whispers to us all day long 

From dawn to dusk, “Be true, be strong; 

Who falters now with plough or hoe 
Gives comfort to his country’s foe.” 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


It seems to me I’ve never tried 
To do so much about the place, 

Or been so slow to come inside. 

But since I’ve got the Flag to face, 
Each night when I come home to rest, 

I feel that I must look up there 
And say, “Old Flag, I’ve done my best, 
Today I’ve tried to do my share.” 

And sometimes, just to catch the breeze, 
I stop my work, and o’er trees 
Old Glory fairly shouts my way, 

“You’re shirking far too much today!” 


The help have caught the spirit, too; 

The hired man takes off his cap 
Before the old red, white and blue. 

Then to the horses says, “Giddap!” 
And, starting bravely to the field. 

He tells the milkmaid by the door, 
“We’re going to make these acres yield 
More than they’ve ever done before!” 
She smiles to hear his gallant brag. 
Then drops a curtsey to the Flag, 

And in her eyes there seems to shine 
A patriotism that is fine. 


We’ve raised a flagpole on the farm 
And flung Old Glory to the sky; 

We’re far removed from war’s alarm 
But courage here is running high. 

We’re doing things we never dreamed 
We’d ever And the time to do. 

Deeds that impossible once seemed 
Each morning now we hulry through. 

The Flag now waves above our toil. 
And sheds its glory on the soil; 

And man and boy look up to it 
As if to say, “I’ll do my bit!” 

—Edgar A. Guest. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


41 


WHY I CANNOT BE A NEUTRAL 

★ ★ 

I went into Belgium and occupied France a neutral, and I 
maintained while there a steadfastly neutral behavior. But I 
came out no neutral. A people or a government which can do 
what the Germans did and are doing in Belgium and France 
today must not be allowed, if there is power on earth to pre¬ 
vent it, to do this one moment longer than can be helped, and 
they must not be allowed ever to do it again. 

I went in also a hater of war, and I came out a more ardent 
hater of war. The only way in which Germany under its pres¬ 
ent rule ahd in its present state of mind can be kept from do¬ 
ing what it has done is by force of arms. It can not be pre¬ 
vented by appeal, concession, or treaties. Hence, ardently as 
I hope that all war may cease, I hope that this war may not 
cease until Germany realizes that the civilized world simply 
will not allow such horrors as those for which Germany is 
responsible in Belgium and France to be any longer possible.— 
Yernon Kellogg^ Director for Commission of Relief in Bel¬ 
gium and Occupied France. 


★★★ 

THAT MEANS YOU 

★ ★ 

It is variously asserted, with vigor and emphasis, that 
the war will be won by ships, by munitions, by food, by money, 
by soldiers. Some say one thing, some another. None of them 
is wrong—but no one of them is right. 

The war will be won by the spirit, by vision and courage 
and sacrifice. In proportion as the peoples united against Ger¬ 
man barbarism see clearly, act fearlessly and give themselves 
generously, will the victory for humanity and the world come 
quickly. 

Ships and munitions and food and money and men are in¬ 
dispensable. But unless the spirit of devotion and sacrifice in¬ 
fuse itself through every part of the nations that must provide 
them all their providing will be of no avail. 

The peoples of our allies have learned this truth in bitter¬ 
ness and travail. It has been burned into their souls with the 
searing iron of frightfulness. We Americans are the quick 


42 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


ones, the ready ones, the “hustling” ones. We have gone rap¬ 
idly along the appointed road that leads against the enemy’s 
line once we set our foot upon it. But this vital truth we have 
not yet learned in fullness and “by heart.” It is thus that we 
must learn it. It must come to glow with a quenchless fire in a 
hundred million hearts if the nation that is theirs is to take its 
full part in the salvation of the world for the ideals that are 
theirs. 

The war, so far as we are concerned in it, will not be won 
by ships or troops or guns or supplies or dollars, though it 
might be lost for the want of them. It will be won by the man 
in the street and the woman in the home. It will be won by 
you and your like, by yourself and family, your friends, your 
neighbors, your associates, your fellow workers. 

Is this your war? Do you feel it yours, believe it yours, 
know it yours ? Have you done something to make it yours— 
something definite, something real, something that hurts? 
This is democracy’s war. It is waged for democracy; it must 
be won by democracy. 

Democracy—that means you .—The Independent. 

★★★ 

DO YOUR ALL 

★ 

Now what have you done to help in the war ? 

And how have you stood the test ? 

Have you done so much that you can’t do more ? 

Have you done your level best ? 

Are you satisfied ? Do you think to quit 
Giving aid at your country’s call ? 

Do you pride yourself on doing your “bit” 

When others are doing their all? 

Maybe you’ve purchased a Liberty Bond 
With money you well can spare; 

You have signed a cheque—been quick to respond— 

And pleased to have done your “share.” 

To have done your “share?” Ah, the shame of it! 

To have done your share with a scrawl; 

Complacent because you’ve given your bit. 

While others are giving their all! 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


43 


War calls for the hest from every one, 

Not merely from those who fight; 

Our part in the work has merely begun; 

As we battle for God and right, 

Go to it then, with all your grit, 

Americans, great and small! 

Drop your impertinent “doing my bit 
The least you can do is your all! 

Our boys at the front are giving their lives, 
As Christ gave His life for mine; 

With God-given courage each soldier strives 
That the world may be whole again. 

In that fury of strife in hell’s own pit 
They fight as their comrades fall; 

Are you satisfied to be giving your “bit” 
When heroes are giving their allf 

Think as you lie in your warm, cozy bed 
Of them lying there in the mud; 

Think of the wounded, the blinded, the dead. 
The horrors, the filth, and the blood; 

Think of those who will never submit. 

Who are in it beyond recall. 

Away with your selfish “doing my bit,” 

Be true to yourself—do your all! 

— Selected. 


★★★ 

THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES 

★ ★ 

Did we tackle that trouble that came our way 
With a resolute heart and cheerful ? 

Or hide our faces from the light of day, 

With a craven heart, and fearful? 

A trouble’s a ton or a trouble’s an ounce. 

Or a trouble’s what we make it; 

And it isn’t the fact that we’re hurt that counts; 
But only—how did we take it ? 


44 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Let’s up and with a smiling face; 

It’s nothing against us to fall down flat, » 

But to lie there—that’s the disgrace. 

The harder we’re thrown, why the further we’ll bounce; 
Take pride in the blackened eye; 

It isn’t the fact that we’re licked that counts. 

It’s how did we fight—and why. 


And though we be done to death, what then ? 

If we battled the best we could. 

If we play our part in this world of men, 

The critic will call it good. 

Death comes with a crawl or he comes with a pounce; 
It isn’t the fact that we’re dead that counts; 

But only—how did we die? 

— Selected. 


★★★ 


“Youngster, let that show you what it is to be without a 
family, without a home, and Without a country. And if you 
are ever tempted to say a word or say a thing that shall put a 
bar between you and your family, your home and your country, 
pray God in His mercy to take you that instant home to His 
heaven. Stick by your family, boy; forget you have a self, while 
you do everything for them. Think of your home, boy; write 
and send, and talk about it. Let it be nearer and nearer to 
your thought the farther you have to travel from it; and rush 
back to it when you are free, as the poor black slave is doing 
now. And for your country, boy, and for that flag, never 
dream a dream but of serving her as she bids you, though the 
service carries you through a thousand hells. No matter what 
happens to you, no matter who flatters you or who abuses you, 
never look at another flag, never let a night pass but you pray 
to God to bless that flag. Remember, boy, that behind all these 
men you have to do with, behind officers and government and 
people even, there is the country, herself, your country, and 
you belong to your own mother.”-^l^^a?c, in Man Without a 
Country. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


Breathes there a man, with soul so dead, 

Who never to himself hath said, 

This is my own, my native land! 

Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned. 

As home his footsteps he hath turned 
From wandering on a foreign strand? 

If such there breathe, go, mark him well; 

For him no Minstrel raptures swell; 

Jligh though his titles, proud his name. 

Boundless his wealth as wish can claim; 

Despite those titles, power and pelf. 

The wretch, concentered all in self. 

Living, shall forfeit fair renown. 

And, doubly dying, shall go down. 

To the vile dust from whence he sprung. 

Unwept, unhonored and unsung. 

— Scott’s Lay of the Last Minstrel, 

★★★ 

VERDUN 

★ 

She is a wall of brass I 

You shall not pass 1 You shall not pass 1 

Spring up like summer grass. 

Surge at her, mass on mass. 

Yet shall you break like glass. 

Splinter and break like shattered glass, 

But pass ? 

You shall not pass 1 

German, you shall not, shall not pass ! 

God’s hand has written on the wall of brass 
You shall not pass! You shall not pass! 

France sets her teeth, she bows her head— 

You shall not pass! 

She mourns her wounded and her dead— 

You shall not pass! 

Till the last soul in that fierce line has fled 
You shall not pass! 

The torn hills are quaking. 

The valleys are shaking. 

The earth and the sky seem breaking. 

But unbroken, undoubting. 


46 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


A wonder and a sign 

She stands, France stands, and 

Still holds the line. 

Help France? Help France? 

Who would not, thanking God 
For the chance. 

Stretch out his hands and run to succor France! 

★★★ 

THE CHOICE 

★ 

The American Spirit speaks: 

To the Judge of right and wrong 

With Whom fulfilment lies 

Our purpose and our power belong. 

Our faith and sacrifice. 

Let Freedom's land rejoice! 

Our ancient bonds are riven; 

Once more to us the eternal choice 
Of good or ill is given. 

Not at a little cost. 

Hardly by prayer or tears. 

Shall we recover the road we lost 
In the drugged and doubting years. 

But after the fires and the wrath. 

But after searching and pain. 

His mercy opens us a path 
To live with ourselves again. 

In the Gates of Death rejoice! 

We see and hold the good— 

Bear witness. Earth, we have made one choice 
For Freedom’s brotherhood. 

Then praise the Lord Most High, 

Whose strength hath saved us whole. 

Who bade us choose that the flesh should lie 
And not the living soul I 


— Kipling. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


47 


“FOR ALL WE HAVE AND ARE” 

For all we have and are, 

For all our children’s fate, 

Stand up and meet the war. 

The Hun is at the gate! 

Our world has passed away 
In wantonness overthrown. 

There is nothing left today 
But steel and fire and stone. 

Though all we knew depart. 

The old commandments stand: 

‘Tn courage keep your heart. 

In strength lift up your hand.” 

Once more we hear the word 
That sickened the world of old: 
“No law except the sword 
Unsheathed and uncontrolled.” 
Once more it knits mankind. 

Once more the nations go 
To meet and break and bind 
A crazed and driven foe. 

Comfort, content, delight— 

The ages slow-bought gain— 

They shrivelled in a night. 

Only ourselves remain 
To face the naked days 
In silent fortitude. 

Through perils and dismays 
Renewed and re-renewed. 

Though all we made depart. 

The old commandments stand. 

“In patience keep your heart. 

In strength lift up your hand.” 

No easy hopes or lies 
Shall bring us to our goal. 

But iron sacrifice 
Of body, will, and soul; 

There is but one task for all— 

For each one life to give. 

Who stands if freedom fall ? 

Who dies if England live ? 

— Kipling, 


48 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Historic Tableaux: ^ 

(Pose Patriotic Pictures.) 

The Spirit of ’76. 

Puritans Going to Church.— Boughton. 

Pilgrims in Exile.— Boughton. 

Pilgrims Going to Church.— Boughton. 

Landing of Columbus .—Vander Lyn. 

Death of Columbus.— Wappers. 

Priscilla and John Alden.— Fredericks. 

The Surrender of Burgoyne.— Trumbull. 

If copies of these pictures may not be had, suitable 
pictures may be chosen from United States Histories and used 
as tableaux. 


★★★ 


A Letter to Mrs. Bixley of Boston 

Executive Mansion, Washington, 
November 21, 1864. 


Mrs. Bixley, 

Boston, Massachusetts. 

Dear Madam: 

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a 
statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you 
are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the 
field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words 
of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a 
loss so overwhelming. But I can not refrain from tendering to 
you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the 
republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father 
may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you 
only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the sol¬ 
emn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice 
upon the altar of freedom. 

Yours very sincerely and respectfully, 
Abraham Lincoln. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


49 


LITTLE PATRIOTS 

The posters on the street all say 
That we must do our share, 

And rally round our sailor boys 
And soldiers everywhere. 

Our nursie says, they’ll go away. 

Far, far across the sea. 

And on the fields of sunny France 
They’ll fight for you and me. 

So don’t you think that you and I 
Might see what we can do ? 

Then even if we’re very small 
We’ll know we’re helping, too. 

And if we don’t know how to knit 
The mufflers and the socks. 

Still we can save our pennies 
For the Junior Red Cross Box. 

For every one can do his bit. 

If he but does his best. 

And Uncle Sam needs little folk 
As well as all the rest. 

—Edna A. Cooke, in St. Nicholas. 

★★★ 

A PATRIOTIC TOAST 

Here’s to the blue of the wind-swept North, 
When we meet on the fieds of France, 

May the spirit of ‘‘Grant” be over them all 
When the “Sons of the North” advance. 

Here’s to the gray of the sun-kissed South, 
When we meet on the fields of France, 

May the spirit of “Lee” be over them all 
When the “Sons of the South” advance. 

And here’s to the Blue and Gray as one. 

When we meet on the fields of France, 

May the spirit of God be over them all, 

When the “Sons of the Flag” advance. 


50 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


A TRIBUTE TO WOMAN 

★ ★ 

Woman’s rightful place in the economic world is absolutely 
assured. Grim war has made it so. As man bravely shoulders 
his gun and marches off to the trench, in answer to his coun¬ 
try’s call, luckily woman puts her hand to the abandoned plow 
and jubilantly, efficiently, patriotically, takes as her bit the 
work of supplying the homes’ needs in this emergency of pro¬ 
viding for him at the trench as well. 

The woman goes into the factory to mould the bullet that 
man shall use to halt the march of the lust-besotted, honor- 
spurning, beast-like super-Hun. 

In business-like fashion she prosaically goes forth to solicit 
the bond, the war stamp and the free will offering that shall 
furnish the means whereby this war for the preservation of 
civilization may be won. She kisses the boy of her heart a 
tender good-bye as only a mother can, but far from succumb¬ 
ing to her grief she urges him on, bidding him be brave, loyal 
and true, and, if it be God’s will that he never return, to die 
game, that she in her deep bereavement may still have this 
noble, sustaining thought to comfort her—HE DIED A MAN. 
Spartan mother could do no more. 

These and a thousand other equally sublime acts show the 
work of her hand in this—America’s—the World’s—hour of 
supreme trial. And yet with that same hand she still has 
time to minister to the wounded, distressed or dying khaki 
clad man at the battling line, for in spite of all she has not 
failed to be a woman still. In the Red Cross she is the loving, 
living Angel-Mother to those who must bleed and die that the 
whole world shall be made safe for democracy .—By Juan J. 
Clancey^ Fort Sumner. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


51 


GOD SAVE—KEEP—HOLD—OUR MEN 

¥ ¥ 

(Tune, “America/^ Key F.) 

God SAVE our splendid men 
Send them safe home again 
God SAVE our men. 

Make them victorious, 

Patient and chivalrous, 

They are so dear to us. 

God SAVE OUR MEN. 

God KEEP our own dear men. 

From every stain of sin 
God KEEP OUR MEN. 

When Satan would allure. 

When tempted KEEP them pure. 

Be their protection sure— 

God KEEP our men. 

God HOLD our precious men. 

And love them to the end, 

God HOLD our men. 

Held in Thine arms so strong 
To Thee they all belong. 

Held safe from every wrong, 

God HOLD OUR MEN. 

(The above song furnished on application to D. N. Smith & Son, 
Printers, 416 N. 21 Street, Birmingham. 


52 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


LOYALTY IS THE WORD TODAY—LOYALTY TO THE 

U. S. A. 


★ ★ 

SONG 

North, South, East and West, your country calls you, 

To swear you’ll be true to the Red, White and Blue; 
United, we stand; divided, we fall; 

A free sea and land means freedom for all. 

Then show your colors bravely, each maid and man, 

A true united nation, proud American; 

With loyalty, with courage, and pride we say, 

“We stand by our flag and our country today!” 

CHORUS 

Loyalty is the word today. 

Loyalty to the U. S. A.; 

“Peace with honor,” the nation cries. 

Peace without—the nation dies. 

Now’s the time for hearty action. 

Without fear, and without faction; 

Loyalty is the word today. 

Loyalty to the U. S. A. I 

’Tis no time for doubt, ’tis no time to pause; 

With love and with faith we’ll be true to our cause; 
Defending Our land, protecting our trust. 

For freedom we’ll fight, and die if we must. 

Then show your colors bravely, each maid and man, 

A true united nation, proud American; 

With loyalty, with courage, and pride we say, 

“We stand by our flag and our country today I” 

—By Dee Dooling Cahill and J, E. Andine. 

Words and music sold at all music stores, department stores and 5 and 
10 cent stores. Price 10c. Published by GREAT AIM SOCIETY, 839 
West End Avenue, New York City. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


53 


AN APPEAL TO AMERICA 

CHARACTERS 

1. America. .A girl dressed as Goddess of Liberty. 

2. France.... .A girl in costume wearing a liberty cap 

and carrying a French flag. 

3. Belgium .A small girl in national costume with 

Belgian flag. 

4. Berhia .A small girl in national costume with 

Serbian flag. 

5. Roumania .A small girl in national costume with 

Roumanian flag. 

6. Italy .A small girl in national costume with 

Italian flag. 

7. Fngland .-.A girl in costume wearing crown and 

carrying British flag. 

8. Herald. 

9. American Army .-.A boy in military costume. 

10. American Nary .A boy in naval costume. 

11. Wealth ..A boy well-dressed, typifying capital. 

12. Labor .A boy in laborer’s garb. (May be accom¬ 

panied by smaller boys dressed to represent miner, 
railroad employee, etc. 

13. Agriculture .A boy dressed to represent a 

farmer, carrying hoe or rake and a basket of agricul¬ 
tural products. 

14. Conservation .A girl wearing a “Conservation Uniform.’’ 

15. American Red Cross .A girl in Red Cross uniform. 

16. Junior Red Cross .A very small child in Red Cross 

uniform. 

17. Y. M. C. A .A boy dressed as Army Y. M. C. A. worker. 

Enter America with Herald. 

America: For more than a year have I warred against the 
rule of might—against the law of the jungle as the high¬ 
est principle of nations. Two opposing forces are gripped 
in struggle, might against right. 

So far our allies have borne the burden of the combat. They 
have fought bravely and well in defense of free govern¬ 
ment. Now they come to recount their deeds and to ad¬ 
vise how best we may contribute towards the overthrow 
of the world-old evil. 























54 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Let our Allies approach. 

(Herald goes toward right of stage where he meets 
the allies. He ushers them in and advances with France 
toward America.) 

H.erald: The first friend of our early struggles, France, with 
her freedom born of bloodshed and revolution, stands at 
our doors. 

America: I greet you, beloved sister of exalted ideals! 

France: France! What magic, what spirit in the name! I 
am a peace-lover, a believer in liberty, equality, fraternity. 

I have given art and science to the world. I was busy 
with domestic affairs when suddenly I again heard the 
cannon and the war cry of the fierce Teuton to the east. 
It was this tribe of blood-thirsty vandals who, fifty years 
ago, waged an aggressive war on me, killed and starved 
my men, women and children, burned my towns, stole 
Alsace and Lorraine, left peace and liberty bleeding, and 
levied indemnity upon my land. In 1914, this savage 
again left his lair and set out with ruthless, indescribable 
murder to devastate Paris and to crush and dominate the 
world. 

But for that price, valor, and patriotism which fills 
my heart and soul, Paris would have fallen again to these 
hordes. I rose to arms to the tocsin of the Marsellaise 
and checked the tyrant's onslaught. For more than three 
, years I have held him at bay. I have fought night and 
day for my beloved freedom. 

America! America! Goddess of Liberty! I implore 
thy aid! 

(Turns to assembled allies.) 

To arms, to arms, ye brave! And we will continue to 
fight until France is a sea of blood, even though there be 
none left to bury the dead. March on, march on, ye sons 
of France! Awake to glory! Drive back the ruffian 
band! March on to victory or to death! 

America: 0 wonderful France! Thy spirit uplifts us. 

All: Vive, La France! 

Herald: Now approaches Belgium, whose tragedy fills our 
hearts with grief. 

America: 0 Belgium! Your desolation has aroused lovers of 
justice throughout the world. May God speed the day of 
your restoration. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


5& 

Belgium: In 1914, Germany brushed aside her treaty, her 
honor solemnly pledged, and invaded my domains. She 
murdered my people, destroyed my industries, burned my 
homes and citizens! 

Three and one-half millions of Belgians are wholly de¬ 
pendent for their very existence upon the Allies! 

To us the American flag is sacred, the English flag is 
sacred, the French flag is sacred, for under the folds of 
these flags we have been fed and clothed. Oh continue to 
help me. Allies! Keep your sacred banners flying till you 
have overcome Germany's menace, till the Flag of Democ¬ 
racy is hoisted over every nation I 

America: Cursed be this German hypocrisy! The invasion 
of Belgium was not a device resorted to in a moment of 
alarm; it was a part of Germany's carefully developed 
plan to defy Europe. 

Herald: I announce Serbia, one of the small nations for whose 
defense stronger nations are arrayed. 

America: Serbia, you, too, have lost all to satisfy the enemy's 
cruel thirst for dominion. 

Serbia: Proudly I repelled the barbarians; yet could my vic¬ 
tories be other than short-lived when the force of Aus¬ 
tria's ambition o'erswept my land? 

My heart is wrung with remembrance of the disas¬ 
trous retreat, and I am drained of blood! 0 remnants of 
my valiant army! 0 my once happy, thrifty peasantry I 
6 my glad-yielding lands! All clutched by a relentless foe! 

Near Monastir alone are 40,000 villagers dependent 
upon charity, robbed of all means of self help. My brave 
sons suffering in wretched hospitals for want of medicine 
and nourishment, children and aged women homeless and 
starving hold out their hands in piteous appeal. Great¬ 
hearted sister, send the help I crave! 

America: Belgium! Serbia! Your pleas have been heard. 
Within my land are philanthropic forces at work to con¬ 
tinue donations for the solace of your crushed peoples. 

Herald : Roumania, another of the Balkan nations, comes to 
portray her suffering and humiliation and to state her 
claim to a place in the midst of those fighting the battles 
of freedom. 

Roumania : No words can give a true story of the suffering 
within my borders since 'I entered this great conflict. At 


56 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


the beginning of the war my population numbered eight 
millions; only four millions are now left; disease alone 
carried away 100,000; three-fourths of my territory is 
gone; my food supply is cut off; my cities are demolished 
and my fields devastated. 

In behalf of women and children who have suffered so 
bitterly, I bring to you a letter from my queen. 

(Reads the following letter.) 

Since my country has especially suffered from the 
war, I have had to put myself at the head of many forms 
of service; especially for the orphans; for a woman in 
time of stress should be able to show the way to her 
nation. Nowhere am I more sure of finding real sympa¬ 
thy and compensation than among the American women, 
who have themselves played so noble a part in the life of 
their country. 

My Roumania has been called to drink to the very 
dregs the bitterness of war. Not only have our brave 
men, to the number of some 200,000, given their lives to 
battle, but their homes and families, and especially the 
little children have had to pay the greater price of contin¬ 
uing to live amid such hunger and cold and sickness and 
need as are incomprehensible to the women of America. 

Our hearts are not dismayed, even though our bodies 
suffer cruelly. Roumania will stand fast to the end. I 
hope that the women of America will help keep the chil¬ 
dren alive for the great tomorrow that is coming to us all 
after the war. 

Yours in the fellowship of the mother-heart, 

Marie, Queen of Roumania. 

Herald: There comes an appeal from the land that gave the 
world the most renowned sailor, the discoverer of our own 
great continent. From the people whose ancient city on 
seven hills once ruled the world comes tidings of fierce 
struggles on their historic soil. Italy! 

Italy: From Serbia’s calamity I learned the Teuton mind to¬ 
ward small nations. Slowly it was driven home to me 
that the urgency of my aid towards making real the Ger¬ 
man dream of power accounted for the consideration I 
received at German hands. How long would it be before 
I became another Serbia? Only so long as it would take 
to overcome France and England. This knowledge made 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


67 


me renounce my agreement with Germany and become a 
neutral. I could not help destroy the nations which kept 
me from Serbians fate. I made the cause of France and 
England my own. 

Upon entering the great conflict, I placed an army at 
Austrians frontier to relieve the western front. As fur¬ 
ther assistance I blockaded Austrian ports, joined in 
patrolling the Mediterranean, convoyed transports to 
Egypt, to Turkey, and to Suez. 

At present the lack of such war material as coal, gas¬ 
oline, and munitions hampers my activity and sets on foot 
military troubles. Your aid, America, to supply my war 
needs and to stimulate my army to effective war making! 

Herald: Our mother-country, England, is present at our 
council. 

America: England, I welcome you! Too long there has been 
estrangement. Henceforth, with a common language, a 
common ancestry, common purposes and ideals, we shall 
forever stand bound by the strongest ties. Freedom shall 
ever find in us its firmest support. 

England: I stand for the achievements, the character, and 
the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon peoples. My illustrious past 
is the history of political and religious freedom. My peo¬ 
ple have made the greatest contributions to civilization. 

I was unprepared for war in 1914, since I did not rec¬ 
ognize the danger that lay across the channel in Germany. 
With my matchless fleet I swept German commerce from 
the seas, and so helped to save the Allies’ cause from 
failure. 

Immense are my contributions in service, in money, 
and in human life. In addition to my enlisted soldiers and 
sailors there are two million workers engaged in war 
industries. Millions of pounds are expended annually as 
my part of the financial burden. War’s hideous demand 
in blood appalls civilization I My weekly casualty list has 
reached 30,000. 

Germany’s weapon, the submarine, forged for my 
navy and sharpened for America, is on its way to failure. 
Tonnage becomes the decisive factor. Ships, and yet 
/ more ships must be provided. In no way can you help 
more than in building ships. Are you succeeding? Are 


58 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


you applying your best brains and throwing your great 
energies into this worthy contribution to our cause ? 

America! Respond! Carry your resolve to execution. 

America: I have heard the messages of my Allies. I must aid 
in this great struggle. It is more than mere sentiment— 
the foundations of my republic are threatened. If I would 
defend my beloved land, I must offer sacrifices from all 
my resources. What shall be my response to defenders 
of a cause that must finally involve my own existence as a 
nation ? 

My children, speak! 

(Turns to left of stage and extends hands to Army, 
Navy, Wealth, Labor, Agriculture, etc., who enter.) 

American Army: I am the American Army. I sprang into 
being when the American farmer deserted his plow in the 
furrow, took down his flintlock and powder horn, and be¬ 
came the minute man in defense of his country. My crea¬ 
tion marked a new era in the rights of men, for it was the 
beginning of '‘government by consent of the governed.’’ 
I aided its birth; I nurtured its growth; and I protect its 
fullness. I defend it from division within and danger 
without. 

I have no military castes. In time of need I call on 
farmer, doctor, clerk, business man, merchant. Knowing 
that I will not use them for the destruction or conquest 
of small peoples, they willingly respond. I call them to 
suffer cold, hunger, wounds and even death. Their service 
ended, they return to their homes and beat their swords 
into plowshares, work faithfully at the arts of peace, and 
carve their conquests out of undeveloped prairies, forests, 
rivers and lakes. 

I had my beginning with Washington; I reach my full 
growth with Wilson. I helped Washington free the colo¬ 
nies from tyranny; I helped Monroe and Lincoln free the 
Western Hemisphere; and I am helping Wilson free the 
world. 

American Navy: In every fight for liberty and the rights of 
mankind, from the early days of the republic to this criti¬ 
cal hour, the ready sailors of America have been the first 
to feel the enemy’s steel, the first to draw the blood of the 
antagonist. When the cruel Weyler clutched the throat 
of the Queen of the Antilles, it was the guns of Schley 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 5& 

and of Dewey that broke the tyrant’s hold. When the un¬ 
speakable Huerta would have added to the murder of his 
own Madero an insolent defiance of the Stars and Stripes, 
it was the threatening guns of Fletcher and his intrepid 
marines that drove him from the land he had desecrated. 
When the imperial Kaiser, the self-styled man of God, 
bade civilization accept autocracy or take the sword. 
Democracy’s champion across the seas answered the chal¬ 
lenge and sent her fighting squadrons to make way for 
liberty! 

Already our ships have landed thousands of soldiers 
on the battle front to hearten the spirits of our gallant 
but weakening Allies; and ere the lilies of France shall 
have bloomed again, still other thousands will have taken 
their place in the fighting line for justice. 

The peoples of blood-soaked Europe are looking to the 
West. From out the ‘‘land of the free” must come the 
relief for which they cry. 

“Humanity with all its fears. 

With all its hope of future years. 

Is hanging breathless,” 

on the turn of the mighty conflict which shall determine 
for all time the right of nations to live in safety, security 
and peace. 

Wealth: I am Wealth. You may recognize me in the pennies 
of little children, in the silver dollars, in paper money, in 
gold or in stocks, bonds and securities worth millions. I 
represent all kinds of valuable things. Without me the 
war would be lost. I pay the soldiers and sailors; I pay 
the shipbuilders; I pay for the camps; I pay for the guns 
and munitions; I pay for the food and clothes of the sol¬ 
diers ; I pay for the railroads and steamships to haul the 
soldiers, food, ammunition, and supplies; I pay for all 
comforts of our soldiers; I pay for medicine and bandages 
for the wounded; I pay the doctors and the Red Cross 
nurses. 

I have furnished and I will continue to furnish billions 
to meet the needs of the Allies. I cannot do all my work 
without your help. Buy a Baby Bond! Buy Thrift 
Stamps! Help the Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A. I Don’t 
he a slacker! 


60 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Labor: I am the factor to help you solve present economic 
problems. I can call upon the various branches of me¬ 
chanics and get enough men to begin work immediately 
upon the cantonments that you will need for your armies. 

Each farmer will do all he can to raise more foodstuffs 
in order that we can feed our armies and those of our 
allies. I will not only ask the farmers to produce more 
but I will build up among the laborers of cities and towns 
a sentiment for home gardens and for poultry and hog 
raising. 

Our mines are loyal. Count on them to mine diligent¬ 
ly that Americans manufacturing and traffic may speed. 
Only lack of coal will cause industrial plants to close. 
Factory workers will do their utmost to increase the out¬ 
put during the war period. Already the munition facto¬ 
ries have been supplied with skilled labor. 

To win the war without the sympathetic cooperation 
of Labor would be impossible; therefore, I hope to develop 
a spirit of unselfishness and of loyalty in each worker. 

Agriculture: America, I have heard with interest what my 
brothers, the Army, the Navy, Wealth and Labor propose 
to do in this mighty struggle to make the world free. I 
feel that our noble soldiers are in good hands when 
entrusted to their care, and that when the time comes for 
them to “go over the top’’ these organizations will be with 
them with all the comfort at their command. But the 
bodies of our boys must be nourished with wholesome 
food, else skill will be of no avail. 

I dedicate the whole of my production for the use of 
our own nation and of our allies who are fighting so val¬ 
iantly on European battle fields. I will strive, 0 America, 
to make the yield of foodstuffs, of forage, and of live 
stock equal to your needs and expectation. 

Conservation: I am Conservation. I am commander-in-chief 
of a mighty army. My major-general is Woodrow Wil¬ 
son. My generals are Herbert Hoover and H. A. Garfield. 
My faithful soldiers are millions of American men, women 
and children. 

Do you ask how we shall win this war ? Economy will 
win the war! We shall sow, save and serve. We shall 
sow the seeds which will bring forth the most necessary 
crops. We shall plant in every available space, in front 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


61 


yards, in backyards—everywhere! We shall save. We 
shall buy only necessary articles and let the luxuries wait. 
By substitutes we shall save our wheat for the allied sol¬ 
diers whose wheat fields are now converted into battle 
fields. We shall save our coal to fill the bunkers of ships 
to carry food to our boys ‘‘over there.” One shovel of 
coal saved in each home each day will mean a total saving 
of fifteen millions of tons a year,—enough to send a fleet 
of 25 battleships three thousand miles across the Atlantic 
to guard our transports. We shall observe “wheatless 
days,” “meatless days,” “heatless days,” and “lightless 
nights.” 

We shall win! This great army, the whole American 
nation, moves in one accord, subject to my will. 

I am Conservation! I shall lead the allies to victory 
and the whole world to permanent peace! 

American Red Cross: 

Where horror grips the stoutest heart, 

Where bursting shells shriek high, 

Where human bodies shrapnel scourged. 

By thousands suffering lie. 

Threading the shambles of despair, 

’Mid agony and strife. 

Come fleetest messengers who wear 
The crimson cross of life. 

Can we, so safely sheltered here. 

Refuse to do our part. 

When some who wear the crimson cross 
Are giving life and heart 
To succor those who bear our flag. 

Who died that we may live ? 

Shall we accept their sacrifice 
And then refuse to give? 

I represent, America, your tenderness for your wound¬ 
ed soldiers and sailors and for all others in distress. Of 
my service let France, Belgium, Serbia, England, Arme¬ 
nia, Roumania and Russia speak. Thousands upon thou¬ 
sands of defenseless women and children, tubercular suf¬ 
ferers, terrified refugees, broken hearted repatries, and 
wounded soldiers in the trenches bless the mercy of my 


62 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


ministrations which Americans wealth and generosity 
sustain. 

And this, the Junior Association, a child of Wonderful 
promise, lends aid at home to further my work abroad. 

Junio?' Red Cross: I am a child. I am also a citizen. Any 
citizen of America who does not give service to his coun¬ 
try when that service is needed deserves to be called a 
slacker. I am not a slacker, but a Junior Red Cross soldier. 

I can help, and I will help! My help shall be given as 
our President, Woodrow Wilson, has asked me to give it 
through the Junior Red Cross, by money or by patriotic 
service. 

I wear this Red Cross button to tell the world that I 
am a true American, and that I am helping our soldiers to 
win the war. 

Y. M. C. A.: No single organization has contributed more 
toward winning this war than have I. I have fostered 
physical, mental, and spiritual growth. I have furnished 
books, magazines, and literature of the best type for the 
mind; wholesome games, systematic exercise, and food 
for the body; companionship, social life, and the word of 
God as gospel from human messengers for the uplift of 
the soul and spiritual life. 

I am thus a trinity of blessings. 

America: After a period of infinite patience I have entered 
this righteous war with deliberation and set purpose. I 
dedicate to this cause the full measure of my devotion. 

Among my Americans no hand is unwilling, no heart 
reluctant to do what can be done. Business men are for¬ 
feiting large incomes and young men are sacrificing their 
most cherished ambitions in order that they may offer 
their lives to their country. Mothers are giving their 
sons to the nation and wives are bidding their husbands 
God-speed as they sail for France. Millions face tasks 
today that are new and hard and bitter, and are facing 
them with a smile. 

^^A supreme moment of history has come! The eyes 
of the people have been opened and they see. The hand of 
God is laid upon the nations. Our cause is just and holy,— 
for this we entered the war and for this cause will we 
battle until the last gun is fired! 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


63 


THE JUNIOR RED CROSS 

★ ★ 

To the Boys and Girls of Alabama: 

In the far away countries of Europe there are boys and 
girls, little children and babies who are hungry, half-clothed 
and desolate. Many of them have no parents, no homes and 
no schools. 

The armies of the enemy have left a trail of misery, trage¬ 
dy and horror, and in the midst of it all these helpless children 
stand with hands outstretched toward the children of 
America. 

Will you help them, you who live in peace and comfort? 
Children of slackers and of cowards will perhaps turn a deaf 
ear to this plea, but your forbears were proud, brave patriots, 
who bore untold hardships without complaint. 

You boys can not go into the trenches as, doubtless, you 
wish to; you girls can not minister to sick and wounded sol¬ 
diers, who are fighting for your honor and safety, but there is 
much that you can do right here at home. 

All over the United States people are enlisting in the 
Junior Red Cross. Twenty million young lives will be conse¬ 
crated to the service of their beloved America, on or before the 
birthday of George Washington. That day, February 22, is 
the day on which the Junior Red Cross drive will come to its 
climax. No more fitting celebration of Washington’s birthday 
could possibly be planned than this. President Wilson sends 
you this message about the work: 

“Our Junior Red Cross will bring you opportunities of 
service to your community and to other communities all over 
the world, and guide your service with high religious ideals. 
It will teach you how to save, in order that suffering children 
elsewhere, will have a chance to live. 

“It will teach you how to prepare some of the supplies which 
wounded soldiers and homeless families lack. It will send to 
you through the Red Cross Bulletin, thrilling stories of rescue 
and relief. And best of all, more perfectly than through any 
of your other school lessons, you will learn by doing these kind 
things, under your teachers’ direction to be good future citi¬ 
zens of this great country which we all love.” 


64 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Your teacher will tell you just how to join the Junior Red 
Cross, and will help you find the sort of work that you can do 
best. The membership fee is twenty-five cents, and if you 
earn or save this amount yourself, that will place you bn a sort 
of honor list. If, for any reason, you can not pay the twenty- 
five cents, then there are a number of creditable services that 
you can perform, instead. Your teacher will tell you about 
that. 

The “Morale’' of any army has much to do with its victory 
or success. A small force with spirit, confidence, and courage 
can overcome a big army of half-hearted men. 

Just realize that the spirit of American boys and girls who 
are working hard and feeling right about winning this war will 
spur grown people on to greater efforts, and in the end create 
a mighty wave of patriotism and self-denial. 

You have your great opportunity this week to improve the 
morale of the entire country. You will do your part, I know. 

We are depending upon you, children of Alabama. “God 
bless you every one.” 

Your sincere friend, 
Spright Dowell^ 

State Superintendent of Education. 

★★★ 

The Junior Red Cross or Auxiliary Red Cross Work for the 
Schools 

(This article is introduced by a few quotations from Red Cross literature 
setting forth the origin and purpose of the organization 
of the Junior Red Cross.) 

“Through the Junior Red Cross, which has been created in 
accordance with a plan accredited largely to Dr. H. N. Mc- 
Craken, President of Vassar College, it is proposed to give the 
22,000,000 school children of the United States an active share 
in the work of the Junior Red Cross.” 

“The War Council of the American Red Cross adopted the 
plan on September 3, 1917. It is administered by Directors of 
Junior Membership in fourteen divisions through the United 
States. Under them work the Chapter committees and school 
officers. But it is the children who are the important workers 
in this great society.” 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


65 


“The purpose of the Junior Red Cross is largely educa¬ 
tional, and its activities will be carried on entirely in the 
schools, as a part of the school work. Through steady and an 
active participation in relief and welfare work, its members, 
who are at an age that responds immediately and strongly to 
the appeal of patriotic service, will be permanently enlisted 
among the creative forces of good citizenship. The service 
they will render in the Red Cross is obvious. By actual results, 
children in some schools working under proper instructions 
and supervision, have already demonstrated their efficiency in 
preparing Red Cross supplies. Their value to the Red Cross 
will be further increased by the cultivation of an intelligent 
support on their part and the enlistment of their parents' 
interest.” 

“Henry P. Davison, Chairman of the War Council of the 
American Red Cross, says: “When I was talking with the 
President about the program I then said that I believed that 
nothing in the Red Cross was as important as the Junior Mem¬ 
bership Work.” 

Rules Governing the Organization of Junior Red Cross 

1. Any public, private or parochial school may join the 
Junior Red Cross. Then all the boys and girls in the school 
become members of the American Red Cross. 

2. (a) The school authorities must give their consent. 

(b) The school must either collect dues or take pledge that 
it will do Red Cross work. 

(c) The school then makes formal application for member¬ 
ship to the local Chapter or branch school committee showing 
that it has collected the dues or taken the pledge. 

Then the school becomes a School Auxiliary of the Junior 
Red Cross and each child in the school becomes a member in 
the American Red Cross. 

3. The dues for each school are as much money as would 
be collected if each child in. the school gave 25c. 

The whole school collects and pays the dues all together. 
The money may be raised in any way which the School Auxil¬ 
iary decide, with the approval of the Chapter or branch school 
committee. 

4. Each school auxiliary uses its enrollment fund for the 
purchase of material for its own boys and girls to make into 
supplies needed by the Red Cross. 


66 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


5. If the dues are too much for the school to pay, it may 
still become an auxiliary if the boys and girls make a pledge 
satisfactory to the Chapter School Committee that they will 
earnestly do Red Cross work. 

Pledge cards can be obtained from the local Chapter. 

6. The school auxiliary is given an engraved certificate 
which records its membership., The auxiliary is privileged to 
display a Junior Red Cross banner, a white banner with a red 
cross on it and blue letters telling the name of the school and 
the year of its membership. The design for the banner can be 
had from the Chapter or branch school committee; the boys 
and girls make their own branch. Also each child may wear 
the regular Red Cross membership button. 

7. The school principal or some one chosen by him is the 
chairman of the auxiliary, a treasurer should also be appoint¬ 
ed. The teachers should be either officers or members. The 
^children are the members. 

8. The school auxiliary is directly under the charge of the 
local or nearest Chapter. 

9. The membership as an auxiliary is given only for one 
year. It should be renewed at the beginning of every school 
year. 

In a large county where there were a number of school sys¬ 
tems, the following plan of organization was perfected: 

A chairman of the County Junior Red Cross and a repre¬ 
sentative from the rural, parochial, private and city schools 
was appointed by the Chapter to form a central committee. 

A treasurer was elected by this committee who was to re¬ 
ceive all the money collected in the county. Each member of 
the committee appointed a treasurer for his system whose 
duty it was to receive all the money in that system and to 
make requisition for supplies needed and to see that each 
school receives their supplies and that they were returned 
when made into Red Cross articles. A buyer and an inspection 
committee were also appointed. Teachers were asked to vol¬ 
unteer for distributing supplies. 

When organizing the Junior Red Cross in rural communi¬ 
ties where the people have not had the opportunity of hearing 
just what the Red Cross is doing and what its aims are, the 
organizers may be confronted with many more obstacles than 
in the cities where a speech about some phase of war work is a 
nightly occurrence. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


67 


In one county which now has a large organization, it was 
found that many people thought that when their children 
joined the Junior Red Cross they signed a contract to go to 
France when called by the Government, therefore, it was de¬ 
cided that the first steps in the organization must be to inform 
the parents and the children just what the Junior Red Cross 
meant. The best speakers obtainable were sent to each com¬ 
munity and the work of the American Red Cross and the rela¬ 
tions of the Junior Red Cross to it was carefully explained. 
The result was that many women are doing Red Cross work 
along with their children. 

Each teacher should feel personally responsible for each 
child in her room, for it is her interest and enthusiasm that 
will make the Junior Red Cross possible in every school in Ala¬ 
bama, and she will be more than repaid by the beautiful re¬ 
sponse from her children who, for the first time, feel that they 
are really helping in this great war, making something for 
the soldiers, or the poor little refugee children.” 

President Wilson says in his proclamation to the children 
of the United States, “I commend to all school teachers in the 
country the simple plan which the American Red Cross has. 
worked out to provide for your cooperation, knowing as I do 
that school children will give their best service under the 
direct guidance and instructions of their teachers. Is not this 
perhaps the chance for which you have been looking to give 
your time and efforts in some measure to meet our national 
needs ?” 

Each child, however small, should be allowed to do some¬ 
thing. The little folks can snip cloth for comfort pillows. The* 
boys make knitting needles, others can make comfort quilts, 
towels, bags, etc. It is especially requested that the older girls 
in the grades make infant layettes for the helpless refugee chil¬ 
dren. Where there are manual training classes, the boys can 
make packing boxes, or furniture and sell it for the Red Cross. 

‘‘Careful workmanship in making all supplies may be en¬ 
couraged by means of the honor roll system and by class room 
exhibits of the articles produced by the schools. One perfect 
article is of more value to the Red Cross and to the child who 
makes it than twenty imperfect ones. If every school child 
should make just one article the total would be 22,000,000, sOi* 
we may emphasize quality and still have quantity.” 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


«8 


A. R. C 602 Manual on War Relief Activities for Schools 
gives a tabulated list of articles by grades. , 

Patterns can be obtained from the following pattern com¬ 
panies : Butterick, May Manton, Pictorial Review, Home Peer¬ 
less, Standard, New Idea. 

Many clever ways of making money have been thought of 
by teacher and pupils—all kinds of entertainments, selling 
knitting needles, a Christmas sale of toys made by the chil¬ 
dren, an egg day when every child brought an egg, selling sand¬ 
wiches, box supper, and schools doing their own janitor work 
are some of the ways reported by which money has been made 
for the Junior Red Cross. 

Those teachers who have done Red Cross work have not 
only found their school and community brought into closer 
touch and greater sympathy with our great cause, but their 
school work has been stimulated and their children have been 
taught the great lesson of service and thrift as could have been 
done by no other agency. 

The organization of the Junior Red Cross is the greatest 
opportunity for service that has ever come to the teachers of. 
Alabama. 

The following pamphlets can be obtained from the local 
Chapter or by writing to Hon. W. J. Leppert, Director Junior 
Membership, New Orleans, La. 

A. R. C. 600. 

A. R. C. 601, Story of the Red Cross. 

A. R. C. 602, Manual on War Relief Activities for Schools. 

A. R. C. 603, The Work and Spirit of the Junior Red Cross. 

These are indispensable. There is also a Red Cross maga¬ 
zine which is helpful and inspiring. 

1. The Scope of the Red Cross Junior Membership 

A. Patriotic War Service. 

We believe that a junior organization of the American Red 
Cross possesses factors which mark it uniquely as a channel 
of patriotic service for our young citizens: 

(1) The President of the United States is its president. 

(2) Its international relations embody the highest con¬ 
ception of patriotism. 

(3) The Red Cross policy of decentralization with immedi¬ 
ate transmission of information from national to divisional 
and chapter headquarters insures local autonomy. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


69 


(4) The strong plan of chapter organization insures a pub¬ 
lic sympathetically disposed to its program. 

(5) The composition of the chapter school committee in¬ 
sures educational control of the work within chapter bounda¬ 
ries. 

(6) The principal, as chairman of his school auxiliary, has 
within his power to determine the extent to which his school 
should contribute in the work of patriotic service. 

(7) The ideals of the Red Cross are those which have the 
strongest and directest appeal to the hearts and minds of 
youth in war-time. To alleviate the wants and sufferings of 
others affords an opportunity of happy service, sheltered by 
which our children may escape many of the blighting influ¬ 
ences of war. 

B. Cooperation in War Service. 

We would have our children not merely escape the ills of 
war; we would teach them to be in a constructive way citizens 
of the America that is to be. 

We regard it as essential that the Junior Red Cross should 
undertake to teach that all our efforts to aid the Government 
are essentially one. The mobilization of our home guards, the 
control of food, fuel, and railways, the conservation of clothes 
and spending money, and other forms of thrift and economy 
suggested by the National War Savings Committee,-the pro¬ 
tection of the individual and the community in the conditions 
of health and work which have been already won—all these 
are identical with the aims of the Junior Red Cross, with the 
volunteer making of sweaters and garments, of packing boxes 
and surgical tables. The purpose of all this is one; to release 
to the Government for its vital needs, men, money and sup¬ 
plies. Every sweater contributed by a school auxiliary is a 
step in conservation just as truly as war savings or food 
pledges. 

Since these activities are essentially one, we believe that 
the economy of the school program demands the avoidance of 
conflicting appeals and duplicating organization. The Junior 
Red Cross, which has already won so wide a measure of recog¬ 
nition in the school field, offers its organization and lines of 
approach to other national programs which include the 
schools, and will cooperate to the fullest extent with them in 
obtaining a wise economy of the child's time and strength. 


70 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


C. Educational Program. 

We believe that a field of permanent usefullness ,may be 
found for the Junior Red Cross, in the promotion of activities 
concerned with instruction in better citizenship through: 

1. Development of public and private well-being— 

a. Personal hygiene. 

b. Public health. 

c. Cooperation with the nurse. 

d. Protection and rescue. 

e. Vocational training in Red Cross work. 

2. Promotion of international good will through mutual 
knowledge and appreciation— 

a. Folk song and dance. 

b. Drama. 

c. Ways of living. 

d. Protecting the child's heritage in nature. 

e. The International Red Cross. 

3. Study in National ideals— 

a. American character illustrated through literature and 
history. 

b. Americanization of the immigrant. 

c. Self expression through the civics. 

Join the Junior Red Cross—An Appeal to the Boys and Girls 
of America 

It was an American poet, himself of German descent and 
absolutely loyal to America, who addressed a little book to the 
boys and girls of this land. You Are the Hope of the World. 
That is the exact truth. You are indeed the world's hope for 
democracy, for justice, for international friendship. How can 
we make you feel this, we older people working now to help 
our nation on our fight for these things ? 

Well, one way is the Junior Red Cross. President Wilson 
approved it when he issued his famous proclamation Septem¬ 
ber 15th, calling to the children of the schools to unite under 
it for patriotic service. 

During the ten days between Lincoln's and Washington's 
birthdays, February 12 to 22, 1918, theAmerican Red Cross 
summoned you, boys and girls of America, to respond to Presi¬ 
dent Wilson's call in complete battle line formation, the battle 
line of the American school. 

The president of the National Educational Association has 
issued a call to the colors which we hope will be read by every 
pupil in the land. Cardinal Gibbons has given his full ap- 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOIN. 


71 


proval to the movement and serves upon our national commit¬ 
tee. Many others, representing every type of school and 
every kind of scholar have joined us in the great movement. 

What is the Junior Red Cross f 

It is a department of the American Red Cross belonging to 
the school children of the United States through which they 
can find expression in every form of patriotic service. As 
President Wilson says, “Learn by doing kind things under 
your teacher’s direction to be future good citizens of this great 
country which we all love.” 

The Junior Red Cross is unity. When a school has once 
joined the Junior Red Cross it can engage in any form of 
patriotic service which the government has approved. It can 
work for war saving; it can plant school gardens; it can en¬ 
gage in salvage work of the raw material board; it can help the 
Food Administration or the Council of Defense, and all the 
while be acting as a part of the Junior Red Cross which has 
agreed to cooperate with all these branches of the government 
work. 

The Junior Red Cross is efficiency. It can provide you boys 
and girls with work to do which will be of real service, with 
opportunities for work which are practical and which lead to 
definite results, with specifications of articles to make which 
the Red Cross knows to be useful at this time. You can be 
sure that your money which goes to the Red Cross will not be 
wasted. 

The Junior Red Cross is conservation. Every sweater that 
you knit, every box that you make, is just as truly a piece of 
conservation as money put in the war savings or liberty bonds. 
You are helping the government by using your school time in 
helping to release other workers in other fields of which the 
government has need. 

The Junior Red Cross is morale. In joining it you are join¬ 
ing that great army of citizens which stands back of the boys 
at the front. You put courage in their hearts and power in 
their elbow, you make them feel that their country is with 
them and is something to fight for and die for, if need be. 

Can you think of any reason—teachers, and boys, and girls, 
why you should not join the Junior Red Cross ? Then write to 
the nearest Red Cross Chapter headquarters and have your 
school join the rest. Make our battle cry come true, “Every 
School a Red Cross Auxiliary, a Center of National Service.” 

—By Dr. H. N. McCracken. 


72 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


The Cross of Red 

★ 

Upon the field of battle, 

In deadly No Man's Land, 

He lay all bruised and shat¬ 
tered. 

By sulphurous breezes 
fanned. 

The cannon roared about him. 
The shrieking, slaughtering 
shell 

Transformed the one time 
meadow. 

To horrid, loathsome hell. 

He lay there, writhing, pray¬ 
ing. 

Wounded, wan and worn 
And hope had all but van¬ 
ished ; 

Just then a sign was borne 

On high. A snowy banner 
Crossed with an emblem red. 
Then hope wells in his bosom 
And tears of joy are shed. 

For he is lifted gently 
By hands so cool and kind. 
They know just how to touch 
him; 

Just how his wounds to bind. 

How noble is their service! 
How bright the look they 
wear! 

Is this not a reflection 
From the fair sign they bear? 

How can they be forgetting 
When Mercy's path they 
tread. 

The ever sacred meaning 
Of the bright cross of red! 

—Mary Tarver Carroll. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


78 


The Crimson Cross 

★ 

Outside the ancient city’s gate 
Upon Golgotha’s crest, 

Three crosses stretched their empty arms, 
Etched dark against the west. 

Blood from nail-pierced hands and feet. 
And tortured thorn-crowned head 
’ And thrust of hatred’s savage spear 
Had stained one dark cross red. 

Emblem of pain and shame and death. 

It stood beside the way. 

But sign of love and hope and life 
We lift it high today. 

Where horror grips the stoutest heart. 
Where bursting shells shriek high. 
Where human bodies shrapnel scourged 
By thousands suffering lie; 

Threading the shambles of despair, 

’Mid agony and strife. 

Come fleetest messengers who wear 
The crimson cross of life. 

To friend and foe alike they give. 

Their strength and healing skill. 

For those who wear the crimson cross 
Must “do the Master’s will.” 

Can we, so safely sheltered here. 

Refuse to do our part? 

When some who bear the crimson cross 
Are giving life and heart 
To succor those who bear our flag. 

Who die that we may live— 

Shall we accept their sacrifice 
And then refuse to give? 

Ah, no! Our debt to God and man 
We can, we will fulfill. 

We, who wear the crimson cross, 

—By Elizabeth Brown Du Bridge. 


74 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Tableaux—Red Cross 

★ ' 

1. Red Cross nurse sitting in hospital and writing letter 
beside sick soldier. 

2. Red Cross man bending over wounded soldier on* battle 
field. (Red Cross Dog.) 

3. Red Cross Canteen. 

4. Corner of day nursery. Red Cross nurse tending babies. 

5. Repatriated family in France. 

★★★ 

The Red Cross 

★ 

I saw the golden gates roll back 
As up the path they came; 

No angel questioned them of sin, 

Nor asked of one his name; 

But the cedar trees before the mount 
Were aureoled in flame. 

They came from barren, war-flailed fields. 

From which all life had fled. 

And little phrases walked with them. 

Words aforetime said— 

That dying men might easier pass 
To the valley of the dead. 

And following close, from low-pitched tents, 

Moved like a gentle breeze. 

That brings the scent of a garden close 
To the temples of the trees. 

Blessings of those whose bodies lay 
Now healing at their ease. 

And songs of children who had learned 
The Red Cross knows not fear; 

That it walked through a man-made hell 
Yet holdeth each man dear; 

Daring the steel-sheathed claws of death 
To wipe away a tear. 

Therefore they entered as of right— 

Agnostic, Christian, Jew— 

Through the golden gates that gave upon 
The lake where the lilies grew; 

And in the distance by the mount 
Angels on trumpets blew. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


75 


The Red Cross Spirit Speaks 

★ ★ 

Wherever war, with its woes, 

Or flood, or Are, or famine goes. 

There, too, go I; 

If earth in any quarter quakes 
Or pestilence its ravage makes. 

There I fly. 

I kneel behind the soldier’s trench, 

I walk ’mid shambles smear and stench. 
The dead I mourn; 

I bear the stretcher and I bend 
O’er Fritz and Pierre and Jack to mend 
What shells have torn. 

I go wherever men may dare, 

I go where woman’s care 
And love can live. 

Wherever strength and skill can bring 
Surcease to human suffering 
Or solace give. 

I helped upon Halora’s shore; 

With Hospitaller Knights I bore 
The first Red Cross; 

I was the lady of the lamp; 

I saw in Solferno’s camp 
The crimson loss. 

I am your pennies and your pounds; 

I am your bodies on their rounds 
Of pain afar: 

I am you, doing what you would 
If you were only where you could— 
Your avatar. 

The cross which on my arm I wear. 

The flag which o’er my breast I bear, 

Is but the sign 

Of what you’d sacrifice for him 
Who suffers on the hellish rim 
Of war’s red line. 

—John Finley. 


76 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Over There 

★ 

Over the ocean; under the sky; 

Here on the field I lie. 

Somewhere above, are the stars, I know; 
Somewhere in the mountains’ cooling snow. 
And the green corn growing, row on row. 

I look to the sky; but it all shows red. 

Dark as the blood that my breast has bled, 

I catch at my throat, and gasp and choke. 
There is no air—only stench of smoke. 

And wounds that sicken and drip, and soak. 

I look again! There’s a gleam of light— 

Of something as clear as the snow and white. 
It touches me on my breast and head— 

I think it an angel, with bright wings spread 
To bear me to heaven, when I am dead. 

I kiss the Cross—and the Cross is red. 

★★★ 

A Toast 

★ 

A toast or two and a last salute, 

A touch of fame and of good repute. 

Of work well done and nobly led. 

And the tale of the A. R. C. is said. 

A simple tale but its lore will last 

When the annals of war are dead and past. 

So fill your glasses and raise them high, 

A fare-you-well and a last good-bye. 

A fare-you-well and a last “bonne chance” 
For the Eagle’s wings are aloft in France, 
And the old U. S. has called her sons, 

A million men and a million guns, 

The knell is struck for the volunteer. 

Its into the regular army gear. 

So fill your glasses and raise them high, 

A fare-you-well and a last good-bye. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


77 


Song of the Red Cross 

0 gracious ones, we bless your name 
Upon our bended knee; 

The voice of love with tongue of flame 
Records your charity. 

Your hearts, your lives right willingly ye gave. 
That sacred truth might shine; 

Ye fell, bright spirits, brave amongst the brave. 
Compassionate, divine. 

Example from your lustrous deeds 
The Conqueror shall take. 

Sowing sublime and fruitful seeds 
’Mid nations in his wake. 

And when our griefs have passed on gloomy wings^ 
When friend and foe are sped. 

Sons of a morning to be born shall sing 
The radiant Cross of Red. 

—Eden Phelpotts^ 

★★★ 

The Red Cross Nurses 

★ 

Out where the line of battle cleaves 
The horrizon of woe 

And sightless warriors clutch the leaves- 
The Red Cross Nurses go. 

In where the cots of agony 
Mark death’s unmeasured tide. 

Bear up the battle’s harvestry— 

The Red Cross Nurses glide. 

Look! Where the hell of steel has torn 
Its way through slumbering earth. 

The orphaned urchins kneel forlorn 
And wonder at their birth. 

Until, above them, calm and wise. 

With smile and guiding hand, 

God looking through their gentle eyes. 

The Red Cross Nurses stand. 

—Thomas L. Masson. 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 




A New Member for the Junior Red Cross 

★ ★ ' 

First Boy: What do you think, boys, I have a letter from 
Brother Tom, who is in France. He tells me what a great 
work our army is doing over there, everybody doing his best, 
artillery, infantry, aeroplanes and all. Isn’t it hard on a fellow 
just to be a kid and not able to do a thing to beat the Kaiser? 
My! How I wish I were a man and with our army! 

Second Boy: Hello, Jim, what is that you are grumbling 
about? No way to help win the war! What have you been 
doing for the past few months ? Just keeping your eyes closed 
thinking too much about your hard luck of being a kid and not 
old enough to join the aviation corps, I suppose. Now wake up 
.and listen to me. I’ll bet you don’t even know who is the com- 
mander-in-chief of our army and navy. 

First Boy: What do you take me for ? A blooming idiot ? 
Of course I know that it is the President, Woodrow Wilson. 
Every three-year-old youngster in America ought to know 
that. 

Second Boy: Good, I am glad you know. What do you 
suppose would happen to a soldier or a sailor if he refused to 
obey the commands of the commander-in-chief ? 

First Boy: He would be shot at sunrise, and good enough 
for a fellow who would interfere with the success of the men 
who are fighting to win this war. But that is a foolish ques¬ 
tion, Joe. What soldier would be so unpatriotic as to disobey a 
direct command of our great President? 

Third Boy: Those are fine words, Jim, but I fear you have 
not been reading much. You are not a member of our Junior 
Red Cross. 

First Boy: No, I am not, but what of that? I am not a 
girl to sew on night shirts, knit socks and make comfy kits. 
Of course these jobs are all right for our mothers and sisters, 
but I want a man’s job. 

Fourth Boy: Well, Jim, our teacher did not give the regu¬ 
lar lesson in history yesterday but had us memorize a selection 
from a speech of President Wilson, and although I am not 
specially fond of learning things by heart, this piece was just 
what all of us need to learn. 

First Boy: Can you give it? I have heard that you stand 
high in your class. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


79 


Fourth Boy: I believe I can. The whole nation must be 
a team in which each man shall play the part for which he i& 
best fitted—each man shall be classified for service in the 
place to which it shall best serve the general good to call himF 

Third Boy: Yes, that is it. Our principal told us when wer 
were organizing our Junior Red Cross that the President had 
called us to the colors just as much as he had the men who are 
training in the camps. 

Fifth Boy: Yes, and many months ago our commander- 
in-chief issued a call. I know a part of it: “To the School 
Children of the United States: The President of the United 
States is also President of the American Red Cross. It is from 
these offices joined in one that I write you a word of greeting 
at this time. 

The American Red Cross has prepared a junior member¬ 
ship with school activities in which every pupil in the United: 
States can find a chance to serve our country. The school is- 
the natural center of your life. Through it you can best work 
in the great cause of freedom to which we have all pledged 
ourselves.’’ 

Second Boy: Don’t you see, Jim, that this Red Cross work 
is the place for us to do our part? We can’t all be captains; 
and generals, but we can serve under the same commander-in¬ 
chief that gives directions to the army and navy. 

Fii\st Boy: I feel now that I have been wrong and if this is 
a suitable place and time I want to join with you boys. I don’t 
want to be a slacker. What can I do? Tell me how you are 
serving our country ? 

Second Boy : Hurrah for you, Jim! I will take your quar¬ 
ter and turn it in and have your name added to our member¬ 
ship roll. Here, you may wear my Red Cross button till I can 
get you a new one. 

First Boy: Tell me now, what are you boys doing to help 
win this war? 

Seco})d Boy: Why Jim, I am helping with a group of boys 
who volunteered to aid the Red Cross Chapter that meets at 
the vacant store. They need packages carried from place to 
place, boxes for shipping away garments and bandages; we 
are always at the service of the president of the local chapter. 
Besides that, I work on afternoons and Saturdays and give 
one-fourth I make to the Red Cross, one-fourth I set aside to 
buy thrift stamps, leaving half for my own needs. 


80 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Third Boy: I live on a farm, as you know, and I have a 
war acre. My father gave me the acre and I have planted it in 
corn. He said com was needed to win the war. We are eating 
very little flour now. I expect to give a generous part of my 
corn to the Ked Cross. 

Fifth Boy: It was hard for me to find anything to do, but 
I have made wooden needles for the girls to use in knittting. I 
have also a war garden and what I make from it I expect to 
iuse in helping the Y. M. C. A., Red Cross, and in purchasing 
savings stamps. 

Fourth Boy: The boys of my class have decided to earn 
$25.00 during the year. We are preparing a play that will be 
a headliner. Come and bring all your folks, greatest show on 
earth. We also have scrap-iron and empty bottle brigade. We 
have made $5.00 in this way. I have a Red Cross pig. Daddy 
calls it the Autocrat because I give it so much attention, but I 
tell Dad that it will make good sausage for Uncle Sammie's 
soldiers. 

First Boy: Well, boys, I see you are right. If I can't be a 
soldier on the battle front in France I can be a Red Cross sol¬ 
dier here at home. I want to join you now in earning money 
and doing deeds that will make our great commander-in-chief, 
Woodrow Wilson, proud of the part American school boys and 
^irls are doing to make the world safe for democracy. 

★★★ 

DIALOGUE 

★ 

An opening meeting of a Girls’ Junior Red Cross. Five girls 
sewing on Red Cross garments. 

^ara: Just after Brother went to France, I was anxious 
to do something for our soldiers, but I couldn’t find anything I 
could do. I wonder why they waited so long to organize the 
Junior Red Cross. 

Mary: Well, I have heard that the leaders of the Red 
Cross thought it would look as though they were seeking chil¬ 
dren as members just for the sake of the fees they would turn 
into the Red Cross treasury. The governing boards felt that 
the dues ought to be paid by those better able to do so than 
children. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


81 


Annie: Didn’t we do all kinds of work whether they asked 
us or not ? 

Mary: Yes, and it was the splendid work of the boys and 
girls which turned the scales in our favor. Some unusual re¬ 
sults were reported before the close of last summer. Why, the 
boys and girls in the vocational schools of New York turned 
out over 40,000 articles for the Red Cross and the standard for 
these articles was, if anything, higher than that of the adult 
work. 

Julia: Did you hear an account of the opening of the 
boxes from the seventh and eighth grades of the Buffalo 
schools? The Red Cross inspectors were examining the hos¬ 
pital garments sent to them by a group of volunteer 
workers. You know just how carefully these garments have 
to be made and how much trouble they have getting the 
women to go exactly by directions. They say some city chap¬ 
ters, even, have to keep a professional seamstress to alter gar¬ 
ments improperly made. After more than half of the pieces 
had been laid on the pile and not a single alteration had been 
found necessary, the women began to wonder how in the world 
it had been done. It was the most nearly perfect of any work 
they had received. Finally, after they had found everything 
in the boxes made exactly by specifications, one woman said, 
T wish I knew what system these women used. I would like 
to spread the information around.” Then a woman who knew 
told them that all the garments had been made by the girls of 
the seventh and eighth grades working under the direction 
of the sewing teachers. That is one of the incidents which 
brought about the organization of the Junior Red Cross. 

Elizabeth: I read an account of some work which was 
done, I think, by the boys and girls of New Jersey. Some man 
offered all the fruit they could gather from his orchard. The 
boys organized themselves to gather the fruit and carried it 
to the high school. Here the girls canned and preserved it. 
The whole was given to the Red Cross. 

Sara: They found that girls and boys can work and do 
good work too. I certainly am glad because I like to feel that 
I am doing something to help and that my help is worth while. 
How much did we make selling treats at recess ? 

Elizabeth: $17.35. Isn’t that splendid? Our historical 
entertainment cleared $22.00 and Mrs. White says that she 


82 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


will help us with our story hour and music evening. I do hope 
we can make a success of that. 

Annie: Well, I do too; there is so much for us to do and we 
must have money. Mrs. White gave me a list of things girls 
can do and asked that we make plans. 

Mary: Read it. I want to know just what we can do. 
Annie: There are a great many. We shall have to choose- 
1. Make: 3. Put up: 


Jellies, 

Jams, 


Baby garments. 
Children’s clothes. 
Hospital garments. 


Canned goods. 

4. Make scrap books. 

5. Cultivate school garden. 


2. Knit: 

Sweaters, 


Socks, 

Mufflers, 

Wristlets. 

Julia : I suggest that we get a room next to the ladies, and 
make clothes there. Then we can knit all our spare time. 

^ara: I like that idea. It seems to me though that scrap 
books are rather babyish for us. 

Elizabeth: Oh, why hadn’t I thought of that before. My 
little sister and brother have been begging me to tell them 
something to do. I’ll start them tonight. 

Julia: ril start mine, too, and I’ll tell Henry about the 
garden. The boys will be glad of an opportunity to do some¬ 
thing special. 

Mary: Annie, you haven’t any little brothers or sisters, I 
speak for your old magazines. 

Annie: All right. I keep thinking about the preserves 
and sweet things. My brother is just crazy about them and 
I know Sara’s is, too. Can’t we do something about that ? 

t<ara: Mrs. White says that a woman is coming here to 
organize a canning club and she wants us to join. 

Elizabeth: That will be splendid. Then we shall have 
directions for doing it all. Mrs. White says that some girls 
have made as much as $50.00 on their canned products. Of 
course, though, if the Red Cross wants ours we will give it to 
them, but if they do not need our products, then we can give 
the association all the money we can make. When are we to 
meet again ? 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


83 


Julia: Let’s meet next Friday afternoon. But before we 
gOf had we not better decide what we are to do next week so * 
that we can have a report from each one at our next meeting ? 

Elizabeth: I am going to show my little brother and sister 
how to make a scrap book. I hope we shall have something 
done on it by next Friday. Then grandmother is going to 
show me how to knit socks. 

Annie: Would you like for me to see if we can get the 
room next to the ladies ? I have already gathered odd bits of 
zephyr and I shall try to bring you several squares next 
Friday. 

^ara: Yes, indeed, do see about the room. Mrs. White 
will help you. If you get it furnished we can meet there next 
time. I am chairman for our next entertainment and I shall 
be busy with it; yet I am going to try knitting some wristlets. 

If I can’t bring the finished article, I shall at least bring my 
work with me. 

Mary: If I can help you, Annie, call on me. I believe you 
and I are the ones on the entertainment committee, so we will 
secure and furnish the room. Don’t forget you are to report 
receipts from our entertainment too. Mother had some cre¬ 
tonne left from her curtains. She is going to let me make a 
pretty bag for the Red Cross. I’ll bring it. 

Julia: I think I shall help Henry with the garden. Maybe 
I’ll give a garden party, but not the usual kind. Perhaps he 
will help me do enough snipping to make a comfort pillow. I 
am so glad they organized a Junior Red Cross Association so 
that we can have a share in the work. I like to do things. 


84 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


SAVE MONEY 
AND YOU 
SAVE LIVES 
BUY 


WS.S. 

WAR SAVINGS STAMPS 

ISSUED BY THE 

UNITED STATES 
GOVERNMENT 





President Wilson’s Message to War Savers: 

“I suppose not many fortunate by-products can come out 
of a war, but if this country can learn something about saving 




OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


85 


out of the war it will be worth the cost of the war, I mean the 
literal cost of it, in money and resources. 

‘‘I suppose we have, several times over, wasted more than 
we are now about to spend. We have not known that there 
was any limit to our resources; we are now finding out that 
there may be if we are not careful. 

“One of the most interesting things to me about the recent 
loans that have been floated is the extraordinary large num¬ 
ber of persons who have invested. The number of investors in 
securities before these loans were made was comparatively 
small—remarkably small, considering our population and its 
wealth—and it has swelled to the millions, to almost one- 
tenth, I believe, of the population of the country. That is an 
extraordinary circumstance, and it may have some very for¬ 
tunate results. 

“But the thing that you are undertaking is more intensive 
and in a sense more important still. It is the matter of small 
savings, the detailed thought of the matter of preventing 
waste and managing some kind of accumulation from day to 
day, that will fall to you, and I want to say that I for one 
warmly appreciate the number of volunteers of capacity and 
experience who are coming to our assistance at this time doing 
things as interesting and important as this.’' 

★★★ 

Every School a National Center as Well as a Community 
Center— 


Treasury Department, 
National War Savings Committee, 
Washington, D. C. 

To the School Principals and Teachers of America: 

The school principals and teachers are helping to win this 
war. 

Wars are no longer won on battle fields alone. Victory for 
our armies, life for our soldiers, depend on the mobilization of 
our resources. 

Labor and material and the enormous sums of money our 
Government must have to provide them—there is the real 
battle ground—there is where the issue rests—where victory 
must be assured. 


86 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


No nation in history has been called upon to provide funds 
equal to those America must provide for the task which has 
just begun. The serious, vital task before the nation is to sup¬ 
ply the needed funds without injuring commerce and industry, 
without decreasing that very production which must be vastly 
increased, that our armies may be supplied. 

There is but one way. 

The nation must save. Every individual must learn and 
practice the lesson of economy, of self-denial, of saving to the 
point of sacrifice. Thrift will mean triumph. 

Every individual should realize that saving money means 
saving lives. 

The school teachers of America must teach the Nation this 
imperative way to victory—this preeminent way to maintain 
a national strength which will safeguard posterity and ad¬ 
vance civilization. 

The school teacher is the pioneer outpost of the Govern¬ 
ment, standing at the threshold of the Nation’s homes. The 
schools of America are the single units where a national reso¬ 
lution can form and spread overnight into every household. 

The school teachers are the rallying ground for the best 
beloved possession of a country—its children. 

To the teachers belong the splendid privilege, the solemn 
duty, of rallying them round the fiag and then implanting in 
their hearts and sending into the homes of America, the mes¬ 
sage which will keep that fiag flying high. 

The teachers form a mighty agency which can start aright 
the movement among our children on which the success of our 
Government depends. 

We must save mohey that we may save lives. The educa¬ 
tors of America enjoy no greater privilege than that of being 
able to teach this lesson to the Nation; and for the sake of the 
lives of millions of its finest boys, the educators of America 
may be depended upon to teach it quickly and well. The follow¬ 
ing pages contain suggestions which it is hoped may help show 
the way. 

With best wishes for success to your efforts, I am. 

Sincerely yours, 

F. A. Vanderlip, 

Chairman, National War Savings Committee. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


87 


National War Savings Committee^ 
Birmingham, Ala. 

To the Teachers of Alahama: 

You are asked to conduct a campaign for the sale of the 
War Savings Certificate Stamps and Thrift Stamps and thus 
to help our Government in this effort to raise two billion dol¬ 
lars to “Win the War” and at the same time educate our peo¬ 
ple in the habit of thrift which is lacking among so many of 
them. 

We n'eed this money and must have it, but we need also and 
even more the room and men in our factories, that are now 
engaged in the work of supplying the abnormal demands from 
the people for things that they do not absolutely need. The 
fact is that this country cannot fill the demand for non-essen¬ 
tials and at the same time turn out the things we must have to 
equip and maintain our army and navy and which they must 
have if they are to be successful, and without which their lives 
will be sacrificed in increasing numbers because we stay-at- 
homes want things as usual. 

Now we have to decide which we are going to do—go with¬ 
out THINGS; wear our clothes longer; have our shoes half- 
soled instead of buying new ones; smoke fewer cigars; drink 
less soft drinks; take fewer automobile pleasure rides; and 
doing this “help save lives” and “win the war” quickly; or in¬ 
sist on having all these things “as usual” and be SLACKERS 
and be the cause of losing lives; increasing the cost of and pro¬ 
longing the war, and possibly losing the war. 

Things are in a serious condition and it behooves all patri¬ 
otic red blooded American men, women and children to take 
another hitch and resolve that by economy, conservation and 
thrift, and by lending their savings to the Government, they 
will do their utmost to “Help Whip the Kaiser,” and make this 
world worth living in, at the earliest possible moment. 

Get to work at once organizing War Savings Societies, 
pushing the sale of the stamps and preaching the gospel of 
“saving in the use of things we can get along without,” so that 
“Our Boys” can have the guns, munitions, ships, clothes, food 
and other things they need to make their fight and which they 
can’t have unless we do economize in every way. 

The sooner we do this the sooner the war will be over and 
the surer we will be to win. If we don’t do this, and do it soon. 


88 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


we may not win at all. Think of what that means and we 
know no time will be lost in doing your best. Call on us for 
any help you need and let us go ‘'over the top’’ with a rush. 

Yours very truly, 
Crawford Johnson, 
State Director. 

WAR SAVINGS STAMPS 

★ ★ 

On September 24, 1917, the Secretary of the Treasury was 
authorized by act of Congress to sell United States War Sav¬ 
ings Certificates, Series of 1918, the sum of such certificates 
outstanding not to exceed at any one time $2,000,000,000. 

Save for Yourself and Help Your Government by Lending It 
Your Money. 

The United States Government has protected you and 
caused you to prosper. Now the Government wants to borrow 
your money to win the war for the safety of humanity. The 
promise that our government will repay your money with in¬ 
terest is backed by the faith and honor of the United States 
and by the taxing powers of this, the richest nation in the 
world. Buy War Savings Stamps. 

What War Savings Stamps Are. 

They are stamps issued by the United States Government 
to defray the costs of war, to induce saving, discourage waste, 
and inculcate habits of thrift throughout the country. 

The Two Denominations. 

There are two kinds' of War Savings Stamps—the smaller, 
called Thrift Stamps, cost 25 cents each; the larger, called 
War Savings Stamps, have a maturity value of $5.00 each. 

Two Kinds of Cards.. 

There are also two kinds of cards—a Thrift Card contain¬ 
ing spaces for sixteen Thrift Stamps; and a War Savings Cer¬ 
tificate containing spaces for twenty War Savings Stamps. 

Thrift Stamps. 

It takes sixteen Thrift Stamps at a quarter each, or $4.00, 
to fill a Thrift Card. Such a card, plus a few cents in cash (see 
paragraph following) is exchangeable for a $5.00 War Sav¬ 
ings Stamp. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


89 


War Savings Stamps. 

It takes twenty War Savings Stamps to fill a War Savings 
Certificate. A War Savings Stamp costs $4.12 during the 
month of January, 1918, and one cent additional each month 
thereafter, during 1918. On January 1, 1923, the United 
States will pay $5.00 for each such stamp affixed to a War 
Savings Certificate. 

Four Per Cent Interest, Compounded Quarterly. 

Should the twenty spaces be filled during January, 1918, 
the cost would be twenty times $4.12, or $82.40. In five years 
the certificate would be worth $100.00—showing a net profit 
to the holder of $17.60. The average issue price of War Sav¬ 
ings Stamps during the year 1918 yields an interest rate of 
four per cent, compounded quarterly. 

Regulations. 

The amount of War Savings Certificates sold to one person 
at one time shall not exceed $100.00 (maturity value), and no 
person may hold War Savings Certificates to an amount ex¬ 
ceeding $1,000.00 (maturity value). This, of course, does not 
mean that different members of the same family may not each 
hold $1,000.00 in War Savings Certificates. These certificates 
can not be used as money, nor as collateral for a loan. They 
have, however, a cash surrender value. 

Cash Surrender Value. 

If the holder of a War Savings Certificate finds it necessary 
to realize cash upon it before maturity, he may at any time 
after January 2, 1918, upon giving ten days' written notice to 
any money order post office, receive for each stamp affixed to 
his certificate the amount paid therefor, plus one cent for each 
calendar month after the month of purchase of each stamp. 
(A registered certificate may be redeemed only at the post 
office where registered.) 

Registration. 

The holder of a War Savings Certificate can have it regis¬ 
tered, and the stamps cancelled as soon as they are purchased. 
Cancellation is simply a protection to the owner and does not 
affect the value of the stamp. Registration insures the owner 
against loss or theft. 

Where to Buy the Stamps. 

Thrift Stamps and War Savings Stamps are on sale at post 
offices, banks and trust companies throughout the United 


90 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


States, and at many department and drug stores, railroad and 
express offices. Every authorized sales agency displays a 
War Savings Stamp sign. 

Attach War Savings Stamps to the Certificate. 

It is essential that the holder of a War Savings Stamp at¬ 
tach it to the War Savings Certificate which he receives with 
his first purchase, for the War Savings Stamp by itself will not 
be redeemed by the United States Government. Only when it 
is affixed to the certificate which bears the holder’s name and 
address does it become subject to redemption by the Govern¬ 
ment. 

(For further details see pamphlet “W. S. 113—United 
States Government War Savings Stamps,” published by the 
Treasury Department.) 


★★★ 

STAMPS UP TO DATE —INTRODUCING THRIFT STAMPS 
AND WAR SAVINGS STAMPS 

★ ★ 

By Laum Rountree Smith. 

(Stamps of all kinds are seen on a screen and children in 
groups recite for them.) 

All— 

If all the stamps could talk to you 
Some lessons we would learn ’tis true; 

Many colored stamps today 
Will carry mail upon its way. 

15-Cent Stamp — 

I’m a 15-cent stamp you see displayed. 

I show that government dues are paid. 

5-Cent Stamp — 

Packages and parcels small, 

I help to carry one and all. 

2-Cent Stamp — 

Letters I carry for every one, 

I bear the face of Washington. 

S-Cent Stamp — 

The 3-cent stamp at last is here. 

To take your place a while this year. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


91 


1-Cent Stamp — 

Side by side with Jefferson, 

On a postal card place Washington. 

All— 

Though we place stamps in many places, 

We never observed that they had faces! 

Spirit of the Times — 

Hark! I hear a rapping, tapping. 

Rapping, tapping at the door. 

Once again a rapping, tapping. 

That I never heard before. 

Thrift Stamps — 

May we come in ? May we come in ? 

And help you victory to win? 

(25-Cent Stamp goes to the door to admit the Thrift 
Stamps, and a child with dollars on her apron goes to admit 
the War Savings Stamps.) 

All— 

Thrift Stamps now we introduce you. 

You are novel it is true, sir; 

We give you all a welcome hearty. 

When you come to join our party. 

Thrift Stamps — 

All the children everywhere 
Greet us kindly, we declare, 

To save for Thrift Stamps is not hard. 

Then paste us safely on a card; 

We keep your money safe for you. 

And you will help your country, too. 

Fh'st Thrift Stamp — 

Excuse me if I speak in prose a moment. In one school all 
the children are writing thrift articles. 

Second Thrift Stamp — 

They are writing these articles in all the grades. 

lliird Thrift Stamp — 

The one who writes the best thrift article will receive one 
of us. 

Fourth Thrift Stamp — 

I hope I will go to the little boy in the third grade. He 
always writes carefully. 

Fifth Thrift Stamp — 

I hope I will go to the little girl in the fourth grade who 
writes a story well. 


92 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


25-Cent Stamp — 

Fm made of pennies and nickles and dimes. 

I stand, you know, for many good times; 

Thrift Stamps, we all welcome you, 

And say again, “Hats off to you.'’ 

Dollars — 

Dollars children all are earning. 

Money value they are learning. 

Everywhere I hear them say 

War Savings Stamps they’ll buy today. 

War Savings Stamps — 

Buy us early, buy us late. 

Buy one stamp at any rate; 

Some day we’ll come back to you 
And bring you interest it is true. 

All- 

Vi Sir Savings Stamps we give you greeting, 

All are thoughtful at this meeting. 

You’re the most important stamps in the world, 
Beneath the stripes and stars unfurled. 

Song (Tune: ^^Lightly Row”) — 

Come away, come away. 

Thrift Stamps we will buy today. 

Help today, help today. 

Come, oh, come away. 

Thrift Stamps boys and girls can earn. 

War Savings Stamps we’ll buy in turn. 

Come away, come away. 

Buy a stamp today. 

Lucy Locket’s Pocket — 

Here is Lucy Locket’s pocket. 

She lost it on Primrose Hill. 

Bring your pennies, bring your dimes 
This empty pocket to fill. 

All— 

We’ll each put in a penny in turn. 

So a Thrift Savings Stamp she soon can earn. 
Little Pig Bank — 

I’m the little pig bank, ha, ha, ho, ho. 

Come, put in your dimes and a quarter or so. 
Then if I do not change my tune. 

Thrift Stamps you’ll be buying soon. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


93 


Little Purse — 

Little Purse with pennies in it, 

I can help you in a minute 
Save a little for a start. 

Every child can do his part. 

Spirit of the Times — 

Thrift Stamps all are gladly welcomed 
By the children here. 

In many ways they earn their pennies, 

That is very clear. 

War Savings Stamps, you’re so important. 

Though you’re rather new. 

We’ll greet you with the stars and stripes 
And give three cheers for you. 

(All go through a short flag drill and recite or sing: Tune, 
^‘Onward, Christian Soldiers.”) 

I. 

Bring the bonnie banners out. 

We march upon our way; 

Of one thing there is not a doubt. 

We’ll buy Thrift Stamps today, 

Bonnie red and white and blue, 

. We bring our love to you. 

War Savings Stamps we salute you. 

Bring the bonnie banners out. 

We march upon our way; 

Of one thing there is not a doubt 
We’ll buy Thrift Stamps today. 

II. 

Everywhere the flag we see. 

It floats high o’er the street, 

Bonnie banner of the free. 

We come with willing feet. 

As we buy our stamps today. 

We show we’re loyal, too. 

War Savings Stamps now we salute you. 
Everywhere the flag we see. 

It floats high o’er the street, 

Bonnie banner of the free. 

We come with willing feet. 

—Copied from The Progressive Farmer. 


94 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


THE JOLLY STAMPS 

★ ★ 

(An entertainment for the whole school to encourage saving to 
buy Thrift Stamps and War Savings Stamps.) 

Laura Rountree Smith. 

(The children enter, bearing letters and papers, with 
stamps upon them, others representing Foreign Stamps and 
Old-fashioned Stamps, enter and join them.) 

All— 

Who are we ? Who are we ? 

Jolly stamps as all can see. 

We carry mail upon its way, 

We’re stamps of the U. S. A. 

1- Cent Stamp — 

Fm a one-cent stamp bought for a penny. 

Just as important, I think, as any. 

2- Cent stamp — 

I’m a two-cent stamp, this year I cry 
To all my friends, '‘Good-bye, Good-bye!” 

All— 

0 two-cent stamp, don’t go, don’t go. 

We’ve really learned to love you so! 

3- Cent Stamp — 

Ha, ha, ha, here I am too. 

Jolly and bright and something new. 

All- 

You are only new in song and rhyme. 

You really belong to the olden time! 

5-Cent Stamp — 

I feel important; perhaps it’s funny. 

But still I cost you a lot of money! 

15-Cent Stamp — 

I’m a gay little stamp; I travel, ’tis true. 

And what a big package I carry for you. 

Special-Delivery Stamp (running in) — 

I’m a messenger boy. I’m on the run. 

But I’ll pause a minute, to join your fun. 

Postage-Due Stamp — 

I’m postage due, I rarely worry. 

And I’m never in a hurry. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


95 


Foreign Stamps — 

Foreign stamps so hale and hearty, 

We have come to join your party. 

Stamps of Long Ago — 

We’re the Old-fashioned Stamps, as you know. 

And belong to the days of long ago. 

We’re the Old-fashioned Stamps, as you know. 

And belong to the days of long ago. 

All Sing (Tune, ^^Yankee Doodle”) — 

The Jolly Stamps all sing to you. 

Just hear us humming, humming. 

War Saving Stamps are on their way. 

And Thrift Stamps coming, coming. 

Chorus: 

Tra, la, la, la, la, la, la. 

This is what we’ll do, sir. 

Save our quarters and our dimes. 

For the U. S. too, sir! 

'Thrift Stamps (entering) — 

Brother Stamps, we greet you, and realize that you are all 
useful in your places, but we really Mean Something. When 
you save your quarters for us, you are doing something useful, 
and becoming a part of the great nation in helping the gov¬ 
ernment. 

All— 

We can save a quarter if we try. 

And buy a Thrift Stamp by and by. 

Thrift Stamp — 

Do not talk about by and by, purchase me NOW. 

War Saving Stamps — 

We are very important stamps today, and though we cost 
a little more money, you can exchange your Thrift Stamps for 
us, and we will pay you interest some day. I hope we shall 
receive a hearty welcome from the children. 

Save a little every day. 

Now we’ll help the U. S. A., 

Come, save a penny or a dime. 

Just a little at a time. 

Children here can understand. 

Everyone must lend a hand. 

Thrift Stamps, save them all in turn. 

Till a War-Saving Stamp you earn. 


96 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


(Enter child to represent bag of candy, stick candy, chew-^ 
ing gum.) 

All— 

0, won't you buy any ? 

We cost but a penny! 

(The children who first took part, shake their heads.) 

Bag of Candy —I shall have to go 'way back in the show¬ 
case, for the children are saving their pennies to buy Thrift 
Stamps! 

Stick Candy —My fate is much the same they pass me by 
nowadays, but after a while they will have so much money 
they can buy the whole glass bottle in which I stand! 

Chewing Cum —I, too, have to take a back seat. Children 
are saving to buy War Saving Stamps. Their pennies and five- 
cent pieces count up pretty fast, after all. 

(Enter children, dressed to represent the ice cream cones.) 
All— 

We're the ice cream cones, we sing and sigh. 

For children who bought us in days gone by! 

(They march slowly up and down, go through a short drilL- 
line up and sing, tune, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") 
Ice-cream cones are good to eat. 

And you've called us quite a treat. 

But you do not even sigh 
As today you pass us by! 

(They go out with Candy and Gum, children unfurl a ’flag,, 
recite the following, and close with a verse of The Star Span¬ 
gled Banner.) 

'Tis the bonniest flag in all the world. 

Beloved are its stripes and stars unfurled. 

Each child who stands 'neath the flag today 
Will save and be thrifty in every way; 

And War Saving Stamps we all will try 
To save up our pennies and dimes to buy. 

Hold high the stripes and unfurl the stars. 

Red, white, and blue, the bright flag is ours! 

Copied from Primary Education. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


97 


WAR SAVINGS SOCIETIES 

★ ★ 

What They Are and How to Organize Them 

The Purposes of the War-Savings Societies Are: 

1. To awaken a realization among the men, women and 
children of America that in their hands lies Ihe key to the suc¬ 
cessful prosecution of the war; that they can render the most 
far-reaching patriotic service through refraining from the 
purchase of unnecessary articles, confining themselves to the 
use of such things as are necessary for health and efficiency, 
thus releasing labor and materials for the support of our arm¬ 
ies in the field; that there is not enough labor in the United 
States to produce the great variety of articles needed to sup¬ 
port our soldiers and at the same time provide all the comforts 
and luxuries we enjoyed before the war. 

2. To lay the foundation for thrift and economy through¬ 
out the United States and to bring home to the people the fact 
that intelligent and consistent saving is not a dry problem in 
economics, but is the most vital step toward personal success. 

3. To obtain for the Government a large amount of money 
through the sale of Thrift Stamps and War Savings Stamps— 
little Government bonds—the safest and best investment in 
the world, and at the same time provide a method by which the 
small investor may put his savings at the immediate service 
of his country. Members of War Savings Societies pledge 
themselves to support the Government by refraining from un¬ 
necessary expenditures, by systematic saving, and by obtain¬ 
ing new members. 


How to Organize War Savings Societies. 

Ten or more persons may organize a War Savings Society. 
They may meet in the factory, school, church, clubhouse, the 
home of one of the members, or at any other convenient place. 
School children may hold meetings in their classrooms at such 
times as will not interfere with their work. 

At the first meeting of the organizers, one of the persons 
present should be selected temporary chairman, and one tem¬ 
porary secretary. The chairman should preside over the meet¬ 
ing and the secretary should keep a record of what takes place. 


98 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


A resolution should then be adopted in favor of organizing 
a War Savings Society, to be affiliated with the National War 
Savings Committee. 

The one requirement for membership in a War-Savings 
Society is that the person applying shall sign the application 
for membership and the pledge for thrift service prescribed 
by the National War Savings Committee, as hereafter set 
forth. 

If at least 10 of the persons present vote in favor of organ¬ 
izing a War Savings Society, by-laws for the government of 
the society should be adopted and a president and secretary 
elected. 

The secretary should then prepare the minutes of the meet¬ 
ing and should send a report to the State Director of War 
Savings. The name and address of the State Director appears 
on page 100 of this book. 

The president and secretary should be instructed to fill out 
the application blank hereafter set forth, directed to the State 
Director, asking that the society be designated as a War Sav¬ 
ings Society, affiliated with the National War Savings Com¬ 
mittee, and the society’s secretary should mail the blank to the 
State Director. 

When the preliminary steps for the organization of the 
society have been taken, the meeting should be thrown open 
for a full discussion by the members of ways and means best 
to accomplish the objects for which the society is organized. 
As a guide to such discussion, the secretary might read the 
suggestions hereafter set forth. 

The minutes of each meeting should be kept by the secre¬ 
tary. Suggested forms for the organization of a War Savings 
Society may be secured from the State Director and the work 
of organizing a society can be greatly simplified if these forms 
are followed. 

Forming Societies in Schools. 

Each school in the United States should organize at least 
one War Savings Society. Upon the size of the school depends 
the number of societies that may be formed by the pupils. 
Some schools will only warrant the forming of one society, and 
in that event it should bear the name of the school. In public 
schools and other educational institutions in the large towns 
and cities. War Savings Societies may be formed by grades or 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


99 


classes, or by a group of each. When more than one society is 
formed in a school it will be helpful for each society to com¬ 
pare its monthly savings, the attendance at its meetings, and 
other activities. Meetings may be held either after or during 
school hours. While this suggestion may appear to interfere 
with the regular course of studies, it is felt that rather than 
an interference it will be of real value and help in the school 
life. In many schools evening meetings may be held, and occa¬ 
sionally an open meeting might be called, at which time the 
parents of the members might be invited to attend. 

War Savings Societies in schools should, when practicable, 
be officered by the pupils. In some of the elementary grades 
it will be necessary for the teacher to be the executive officer 
and keep the records and accounts. Special forms are being 
prepared by the educational division for keeping the accounts 
of school War Savings Societies. 

As the objects of the War Savings Societies are embodied 
in the pledge to be signed by members, it is suggested that 
pupils be asked to take the pledge card home to be read by the 
parents or guardians, so that the fundamental principles of 
War Savings may be known in the home. 

It is also suggested that the meetings be not confined to 
members alone but that each member be asked to bring with 
him at least one person. This will help to increase the mem¬ 
bership and bring the work of the society to the knowledge of 
the community. 

Before the meeting adjourns any suggestions or new busi¬ 
ness should be presented and disposed of. 

Saving by Earning. 

Many school children who become members of War Sav¬ 
ings Societies can only save by earning, and what money they 
earn will have to be made on Saturdays and out of school hours 
on school days. There are a variety of ways in which children 
can by performing odd jobs earn money. These methods vary 
with the homes and surroundings of the children. In towns 
and cities many ways present themselves, such as selling news¬ 
papers, publications, etc., helping in the local stores, running 
errands, work around the homes, and in a multitude of other 
ways • and in the rural communities, work around the farms. 
In performing this work the child is carrying out one of the 
basic principles of War-Savings Societies ; by doing the work 


100 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


himself he is releasing a certain amount of labor that can be 
used for the purposes of the Government, and in addition earn¬ 
ing money with which to buy War Savings Stamps, thus help¬ 
ing the Government to carry on the war. 

Cooperation of the Banker. 

In some communities a banker or a business man who may 
be an agent of the Treasury Department for the sale of stamps, 
or who has easy access to an agent, could act as treasurer of 
the society. This will facilitate the members securing their 
stamps promptly. 

(Write to Mr. Crawford Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., for Bulletin 146, 
War Saving Societies—What They Are and How to Organize Them. 

j ★★★ 

THE JUNIOR FOUR MINUTE MEN 

FOB 1 H E UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

★ ★ 

A Letter From the Secretary of the Treasury. 

To All the Boys and (Iiris in A)n€rica\s Schools: 

Every patriotic American, if not privileged to shoulder a 
gun, is asking these days, “What can I do? How can I help?'’ 

Boys and girls can help in many ways, and one way is to 
study the causes of this war to learn and understand why we 
must fight on for the safety of the world, for the security of 
America’s rights and liberties. 

Just now this study is especially important because the 
country is in the midst of a great campaign to raise the money 
needed for our heroic soldiers and sailors and for the assist¬ 
ance of the heroic soldiers and sailors of those gallant nations 
—Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Italy—who are fighting 
side by side with us to save the world from the slavery to 
which the Kaiser and his brutal military autocracy would sub¬ 
ject it. I hope that every boy and girl will learn what is meant 
when we say, “The Government is selling bonds; the Govern¬ 
ment is offering another Liberty Loan.” 

As your teacher will explain to you, the prize competition 
for little speeches will help you all directly and will make you 
the patriotic bearers of America’s message in the most effect¬ 
ive way to the homes of millions of patriotic men and women. 

Cordially and sincerely yours. 


AV". G. Mr A 1)00. 


OF PATRIOTIC NSTIRUCTION. 


101 


COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION 

WASHINGTON. D. C. 

★ ★ 

I'o All 1 eiichers mid ISchool Children: 

The Four Minute Men, a division of the Committee on 
Public Information, prepares and mails bulletins on various 
topics to the schools approximately once a month. These bul¬ 
letins are prepared under the supervision of Government de¬ 
partments with editorial aid of prominent educators. They 
are used by the teachers as text-matter from which the pupils 
prepare four-minute speeches or essays (about 400 words). 
The best speeches are then delivered at a meeting of the entire 
school, to which parents and friends may be invited. In large 
schools we suggest that separate competitions be held in the 
upper and lower grades, according to the judgment of the 
principal. The contest should take place if possible on the day 
preceding the Easter holidays. 

A committee determines which of the speeches in each 
competition is the best and a suitable certificate from the 
National Government designating the pupil as Junior Four 
Minute Man for the topic is awarded to the winner. These cer¬ 
tificates will be mailed to the schools with the bulletins and 
must be indorsed by the principals over to the winning pupils. 
The names of the winners are sent to Washington on the re¬ 
turn card attached to the certificate and are enrolled at the 
Capital. 

More than 25,000 Four Minute Men, representatives of the 
United States Government, are using bulletins in preparing 
addresses which they give in theaters and elsewhere through¬ 
out the length and breadth of this land. 

If you call on our local chairman, we know that he will be 
glad to send one of his best speakers to give a four minute talk 
on this subject at any time you may suggest. 

The educator will recognize the value of this movement in 
its direct effect upon the American youth and upon the Amer¬ 
ican home. It will stimulate among the young people a real 
interest in the public affairs of the day and will develop in 
them the power of expression. Topic after topic will be treated 
in the same manner^ and we believe in this way a sound and 
thorough understanding of the causes of the war and the 
duties of our people may be spread to every section of the 
country". 


102 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Every boy and girl in the schools of the United States 
wants to do his or her part. The bulletin tells them jvhat their 
job is and the necessity for the work they are to do. 

Cordially yours, 

Four Minute Men, 

Wm. McCormick Blair^ Director, 

★★★ 

TWO SPEECHES TO SHOW YOU 

★ ★ 

These two speeches are printed here to show the children 
how a four-minute talk can be made by using the facts that 
are printed in the bulletin. When children write their own 
speeches, they should not follow the typical speeches here 
printed, but should try to write better ones, and at any rate 
should be original. Stick to the facts as you learned them, but 
present them in your own way. 

Typical Speech No. 1. 

{Built on outline No. 5.) 

This dollar hill (hold up a dollar bill) is only a piece of 
paper. Yet, because it is Uncle Sam’s promise to pay it is as 
good as gold. 

A War Savings Stamp on this card (hold up card) is also 
only a piece of paper, but because it, too, is Uncle Sam’s prom¬ 
ise to pay, it is as good as gold. 

The difference between dollars and War Savings Stamps is 
that a dollar is never worth more than a dollar, while War 
Savings Stamps are worth 1 cent more every month. 

Because Uncle Sam needs money to fight your battles, to 
protect your homes, he is today having a special bargain sale 
of War Savings Stamps. 

Today you can buy $5 Savings Stamps for $4.14. Next 
month (April) they will cost you $4.15, and in December $4.23. 
In December you can get 11 cents more for every stamp you 
buy today. 

You collect the 25-cent thrift stamps on this Thrift Card, 
just the way you collect trading stamps. 

And every time you lick a stamp you help to lick the 
Kaiser. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


103 


It’s a big war we are in. And we’re going to win. 

The way we’re going to win is in the little things—by 
everyone doing his part every day—every one and every day. 

In Germany the children are collecting all the copper and 
tin foil and rubber for the army. Your ragman will give you 
your first quarter. There are a hundred ways, right at your 
very door, through which you or your children can earn money 
to pay for these War Savings Stamps. 

In 1915, the first full year Europe was at war, we collected 
$114,000,000 worth of old metal. That, according to the 
United States Geological Department, was twice as much as in 
1914. We collected more; we wasted less. There is an object 
lesson for everyone. 

Think of the boys over there who are fighting for us. The 
more we save here now, the more lives of our boys we will be 
able to save. 

Typical Speech No. 2. 

{Built on outline No. 8.) 

Our soldiers can not win the war without our help. If we 
had ten million soldiers, our Government would still need the 
help of every boy and girl in the United States. 

Soldiers must have food, clothing, guns, and ammunition. 
There must be motor trucks, engines, and ships to take these 
supplies to them. Making war is the biggest job that this 
country ever tackled. 

We are going to spend 19 billion dollars in one year, in 
order to carry on the war. Do you know what a billion dollars 
is ? Possibly you can understand it a little better if you know 
that all of the money spent by our Government, from its be¬ 
ginning down through all the wars, through all of the days of 
peace, all that it has spent for the Panama Canal, for the con¬ 
struction of public buildings, for the Army and the Navy; 
every expenditure that it has made, from the first days down 
to the beginning of this war, amounts to a little more than 26 
billion dollars. 

Now, you can understand why everybody must save to help 
win the war. We must save our pennies, our nickles, our 
dimes, and our dollars. Many small savings will mean big 
savings for the country. 

We must save not only money, but materials and the labor 
of men who work in our factories. We can no longer say to 


104 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


ourselves, when we want to buy something, ‘‘Can I afford it?” 
We must say ''Can the country afford it T* Every time we use 
up materials by buying things we do not need, we make it 
impossible for our Government to use these materials for car¬ 
rying on the war, and in this war we need every kind of mate¬ 
rial—things made of cotton and of wool, of wood, and of metal; 
we need food and clothing, machines, and vehicles. We need 
the labor of all of the men that we can get to work for the 
Government. - We must make guns, prepare ammunition, 
build ships and provide for every need of the millions of men 
who are fighting for us. 

Our Government has made it easy for us to save. We can 
save our pennies or nickels until we can buy a 25-cent stamp. 
After we get 16 of these stamps and a few more pennies we 
can buy a War Savings Stamp. After we have pasted our 
stamp on a War Savings Certificate, the money we have saved 
begins to make money for us and it is the safest investment 
that we can possibly make because all of the people and all of 
the wealth of the United States are back of a War Savings 
Certificate. 

★★★ 

A PLEA FOR THE PURCHASE OF A LIBERTY BOND 

★ ★ 

Today, more than ever before, to paraphrase a trite saying, 
“Money makes the war go.” Victory will come to the Nation 
with the biggest purse backed by a patriotic and united peo¬ 
ple. The time was when the largest armies counted for most. 
Man power won by sheer force of numbers. The war of today 
is one of invention, machinery and ships, to produce which 
great plants must be built. What I mean to say is, your Gov¬ 
ernment needs money—your money. Uncle Sam is not a beg¬ 
gar; rather he is a banker who asks that you lend him your 
savings with gilt edge security at a fair rate of interest paya¬ 
ble every six months. Here is a proposition that appeals not 
only to your patriotism but to your pocket book as well. I 
mean the next Liberty Loan. If every school teacher and mer¬ 
chant, every farmer and laborer, professional man and woman 
will but invest an amount equal to his monthly laundry bill, 
the coffers of the Nation would swell to amazing proportion. 
The terms are easy—^payments may be made monthly and the 
bond when delivered is as good at a bank as gold. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


105 


Do you realize the cost of equipping a modern fighting 
force? The eye of the army is the aeroplane—and not only 
the eye but the winged sword that will strike down the 
haughty Hun and bring terror to his soul. 

Money is needed to produce this mighty fieet of Eagles. 
Every combat flier with its pilot represents an outlay of some¬ 
thing more than 40,000 dollars. Think what this arm of the 
service alone means in dollars and cents. If ever your patri¬ 
otism is to become practical it is now. The love of country 
that is no higher than the love of the dollar that its blessings 
have produced is no love at all—^let there be sacrifices if need 
be. Let not the Government that cradled Liberty appeal in 
vain when the vulture of autocracy threatens its destruction. 
Buy a TAherty Bond! 

★★★ 

LIBERTY LOAN ESSAY CONTEST 

★ ★ 

The National Committee of Patriotic Societies during the 
Second Liberty Loan campaign instituted a prize essay contest 
on the subject, “There should be a Liberty Bond in every 
home."’ 

More than three thousand essays were submitted and the 
first prize, a fifty dollar Liberty Loan Bond, was awarded to 
Morris Wolf of the Business High School, Washington, D. C. 
Other contestant schools ranking high in order of excellence 
were the Dunbar High School of Washington, the Joliet (Ill.) 
High School, the McKinley Manual Training School, of Wash¬ 
ington, the Gilman School, Roland Park, Md., the Northwest¬ 
ern Military Academy, Wisconsin, the Deerfield High School, 
of Highland Park, Ill., the Eastern High School of Washing¬ 
ton, and the Hindman Settlement School of Kentucky. 

The essays were limited to 600 words and every school 
competing was required to have a campaign for the sale of 
Liberty Bonds. The total sale of bonds resulting from these 
campaigns went into the millions. The Gilman County School, 
of Maryland, led the list, purchasing $60,000 worth of bonds. 

The National Committee of Patriotic Societies, which has 
its headquarters in Washington, will hold a similar contest 
during the Third Liberty Loan campaign and hopes to have 
every high school in the United States competing. 

Why not try a contest in your school ? Give a blue ribbon 
to the winner and have that essay read. 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


lae 


Material for this essay may be secured in the pamphlet, 
'The Second Liberty Loan of 1917.” This source book may be 
secured from the Department of Education, Montgolnery, Ala. 

★★★ 

FAMOUS THRIFT SAYINGS 

¥ ¥ 

(By 10 little boys. Select 10.) 

“Economy and everything which ministers to economy 
supplies the foundations of national life.” 

“We have not studied cost and economy as we should, 
either as organizer of industry, as statesmen, or as individ¬ 
uals.” —Woodrow Wilson. 

“We must devote ourselves daily and hourly to the task of 
saving and economizing. That is the duty of the hour.” 

“Every penny that you save that you would otherwise 
spend upon pleasure is a direct help to every soldier and sailor 
who is risking his life in this conflict.” 

“Your first duty in this critical time is to economize; to 
avoid waste; to place all your available resources at the dis¬ 
posal of the government.”— W. G. McAdoo. 

“The power a man puts into saving, measures the power of 
the man in everything he undertakes.”— Frank A. Vanderlip. 

“Save, young man, and become respectable and respected. 
It is the surest way. Keep adding little to little, and soon there 
will be a great heap.”— Benjamin Franklin. 

“Economy makes happy homes and sound nations. Instill 
it deep.”— George Washington. 

“Teach economy. That is one of the first and highest vir¬ 
tues. It begins with saving money.”— Abraham Lincoln. 

“Save your money and thrive, or pay the price in poverty 
and disgrace.”— Andrew Jackson 

“If you would be sure that you are beginning right, begin 
to save.”— Theodore Roosevelt. 

“Thrift is the surest and strongest foundation of an em¬ 
pire, so sure, so strong, so necessary, that no nation can long 
exist that disregards it.”— Lord Rosebery. 

“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”— J, 
Wesley. 

“The man who does not and cannot save money, cannot and 
will not do anything else worth while.”— Andrew Carnegie. 


107 


■ 

■ -v 

OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 

\ 

\ HOW CHILDREN MAY SAVE 

★ ★ 

In this time of great national danger, our country is asking 
every man, every woman, every boy, and every girl to think 
carefully every time he eats a meal, every time he puts on his 
clothes, every time he fixes the fire, and every time he spends 
any money how he can save a little. Uncle Sam wants us to 
think 'every day how we can save a little food, how we may 
best take care of our clothing for the day, how we may save a 
little fuel, and how we may best save a part of our money. 
These little savings of food, clothing, fuel and money oh the 
part of every man, woman and child, all taken together, form 
a most powerful aid to Uncle Sam in winning the war. 

Let us all in this school, all the way down to the smallest 
pupil, resolve that from now on we will form the habit of sav¬ 
ing all the food, all the clothing, all the fuel, and all the money 
we can to help win the war. The children of a country school 
in Nebraska have just written their state food conservation 
leader that they pledged themselves not to waste even a crumb 
from their lunch baskets. 

Let us lend the money we save to Uncle Sam by buying 
Thrift Stamps with it. It will then come back to us after the 
war and bring some more money with it for interest. Let us 
not only buy Thrift Stamps with the money we save, but let 
us also invest in Thrift Stamps an amount of money equal to 
the value of the food and clothing and fuel we have saved by 
being careful and thoughtful. This money, which represents 
the amount of food, clothing and fuel we have saved will have 
double value to Uncle Sam, as it represents a double saving, 
that of materials as well as money. Every twenty-five cent 
Thrift Stamp saved in this way will have a value of fifty cents 
in helping to win the war. 

Uncle Sam is asking us to aid him by eating plainer foods 
without wasting one bit, by taking the very best care of the 
clothes we have and by wearing coarser, plainer clothes, by 
saving fuel carefully, and by not spending any money for the 
things we can do without. 

Remember that men like Benjamin Franklin, Daniel Web¬ 
ster, and Abraham Lincoln did not go hungry or cold, but that 
they ate plain, coarse food and wore plain, coarse clothing and 
found in these a source of power which enabled them to grow 
up to be among our greatest Americans —.Talks on Patriot- 
ism and Thrifty Macy Camphelly Dept, of Rural Ed/iication, 
Iowa State Teachers College. 


108 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


MOTHER GOOSE ON CONSERVATION IN WAR TIMES 

★ ★ 

(Copyright, 1918, G. F. Nardin.) 

Kaiser Bill went up the hill, 

To whip the American Natiop; 

Bill fell down and lost his crown; 

He struck on Conservation. 

. Little Jack Horner sits in his comer 
Eating his bread of rye; 

He is saving on sweets, 

And he's using less meats; 

He’s helping. Are you and I ? 

Rub-a-dub-dub, 

Three men in a tub, 

And who, do you think they be? 

The slacker, the traitor. 

The willful food-waster, 

Send them to Germany. 

Little Bo-Peep knows all about sheep. 

How much they are worth to the nation. 

With wool and with mutton 
You bet your last button. 

She’s practicing conservation. 

Sing a song of Thrift Stamps, 

War bread made of rye, 

Saving up the shortening 
We used to use in pie; 

Keeping all the wheatless days. 

And eating meatless meals; 

It makes a lot of difference. 

In the way a fellow feels. 

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe; 

She had a large family and kept them well, too; 

She used mush and milk; ate only war bread; 

Saved fuel and lights by going to bed. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


109 


\ 


Simple Simon met a pieman going on a run; 
Said Simple Simon to the pieman, 

“I want a wheatless bun.” 

Said the pieman to Simple Simon, 

“Show me first your penny.” 

Said Si, “I’ve bought a thrift stamp; 

Indeed, I haven’t any.” 

Soldier boy, soldier boy, go on to the front, 

And we’ll save you our slice of bacon; 

We’ll keep for your sake. 

The sugar that cake 
Would otherwise have taken. 

Old King Coal is a useful old soul, 

In winning a victory. 

Every ton we save. 

Means one less grave 

For our Sammies over the sea. ^ 

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn. 

And tell all the people to use more corn. 

You’re the little boy to save the wheat. 

So the boys in the trenches may have it to eat. 

Jack Spratt could waste no fat, 

His wife could waste no lean; 

They kept so strictly porkless days 
And the meatless days between. 

Do you know the crooked people, 

Who wear a crooked smile; 

And give the crooked reasons 
To cover up their guile? 

They eat their white bread every meal. 

Make sirup of their tea; 

They eat their meat and do their bit 
For Bill and Germany. 

Little Miss Maffet 
Didn’t just blm at 
Trying to save the food; 

She listened to Hoover 
And tried to improve her 
Ways of feeding a brood. 


110 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


The bugle calls our boys to deadly strife; 

The transport nightly bears them out to sea; 
They've heard the call, and bravely staked 
their life. 

They ask but daily bread of you and me. 

— G. F. Nardin, 


★★★ 


THRIFT STAMPS 

¥ 

Sing a song of thrift stamps, 

Sixteen in a row. 

Give them to the agent 
And add fourteen cents or so. 
Change them for a war stamp. 

And for your loyalty 
You will get a crisp five dollar 
Bill in 1923. 

—Kenneth Hmiey, Age 13, 
Irvington, Ala. 


¥¥¥ 

When you have-“two-bits" not working. 
Buy a Stamp. 

Do not let it be a-shirking. 

Buy a Stamp. 

Do not spend it for “tobacker," 

Chewing gum or chocolate cracker, 

Give “no quarter" to a slacker. 

Buy a Stamp. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


Ill 


THE CHILDREN’S BIT 

Yerle Beaver. 

(For Nine First Grade Children.) 

First Child — 

I am just a little child; 

But children know quite well 
That they can help to win the war; 
Just listen while we tell. 

Second Child (little girl, with nurse’s 

cap and Red Cross)— 

Fm a little Red Cross nurse, 

And I can do my bit 
By saving bottles and tin-foil, 

And learning how to knit. 

Third Child (boy in soldier suit) 

Fm a little soldier boy. 

And I can do my part 
By giving up some things Fd like. 
And saving with all my heart. 

Fourth Child— 

Fm a loaf of bread. 

Saved from a wheatless day— 

If every family saved a loaf. 

You’d see how it would pay. 

Fifth Child — 

Fm a big roast beef— 

From a meatless day I came; 

I’ll feed our soldier boys in camp 
And help them win the game. 

Sixth Child— 

Fm a shovel full of coal; 

If you save one every day. 

You’ll help to make the soldiers warm, 
And keep Jack Frost away. 


112 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Hevtnth Child (very small) — 

I’m a little Thrift Stamp, 

And all you children know, ^ 

That saving up your pennies 
Is the way to make me grow. 

Cii/hlh Child (tall) — 

I’m a Baby War Bond, 

Just see how big I am— 

And every time you buy one, 

You’re helping Uncle Sam. 

Miith Childs 

And now that you have heard our tale, 

We hope each one will show 
That Lincoln School will do her bit, 

(Substitute name of any school.) 

And never be called slow. 

★★★ 

SEVEN REASONS FOR SAVING 

★ ★ 

(By 7 Little Boys.) 

1. Save for your country’s sake, because it is now spend¬ 
ing millions a day, and must find most of the money out of 
savings- 

2. Save for your own sake, because work and wages are 
plentiful, and while prices are high now, a dollar will buy more 
after the war. 

3. Save because when you spend, you make other people 
work for you, and the work of every one is needed now to win 
the war. 

4. Save because by saving you make things cheaper for 
every one, especially for those who are poorer than you. 

5. Save because by going without you relieve the strain on 
ships, docks, and railways, and.make transport cheaper and 
quicker. 

6. Save because by saving you set an example that makes 
it easier for the next man to save. A saving nation is an earn¬ 
ing nation. 

7. Save because every time you save you help twice, first 
when you don’t spend, and again when you lend to the nation. 



OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


113 


A PARABLE 

★ 

The soldier treaded his weary way back to the Colonel’s 
dugout. He had been in half a dozen skirmishes with the 
enemy in as many weeks. He was still intact, but scratched 
and wearied from crawling through barbed wire and in and 
out of shell craters. 

He entered the dugout and saluted with click of heels and 
hand to cap. 

“Colonel/' he said, “I think I will have to quit. The battles 
are getting too many. It's rather too much of a good thing. 
I have given about all I can of time and strength and blood to 
this war. I am going home." 

No, the incident didn't happen. But why shouldn't it? 
There are a great many civilians here at home turning down 
such appeals as the War Savings Stamp, Liberty Loan, Red 
Cross and Army Y. M. C. A. 

★★★ 

PLEDGE 

★ 

Our soldiers are going away to fight, perhaps to die, in 
order that we may live in peace and happiness; in order that 
all boys and girls like us may be free; that little children may 
never again be so cruelly treated as the Belgian children, who 
have been separated from mothers, starved and left without 
home or parents. 

I cannot go as a soldier to fight, but I can help them to fight, 
and I can save some from suffering or death by doing well my 
duty at home. This duty I solemnly resolve and pledge to 
perform as best I can in the following ways: 

* 1. By loving and serving in every possible way our country 
and its institutions; by loving and respecting our flag, which 
is the emblem of the freedom and ideals for which we are 
standing. 

2. By conducting my own life so that I may grow up a 
worthy citizen of my country. 

3. By doing all I can to help our soldiers; by growing more 
food, wasting no food or money, and lending to my country all 
the money I can save. 

4. By doing cheerfully as best I can whatever I am asked 
by the President to do to keep us from suffering and to care 
for our soldiers until they shall return to us. 


114 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION 

★ ★ ^ 

For months the prices of foodstuffs, certain kinds of cloth¬ 
ing, machinery and other manufactured articles have been 
soaring. The increased cost of foodstuffs is due, directly or 
indirectly, to the withdrawal from the agricultural industry in 
Europe and the English colonies of the able-bodied men for mil¬ 
itary service, and to the destruction of foodstuffs in transit to 
Europe. The increase in the cost of manufactured articles is 
largely due to the excessive demand for munitions and other 
war materials. 

There is every reason to believe that the demand for neces¬ 
sities will continue to increase, and that, unless there is gov¬ 
ernmental interference, the prices will continue to soar. There 
are only three ways in which we can meet the problem growing 
out of this shortage: We can decrease useless waste, we can 
increase production, and we can preserve for future use the 
excess production. 

The school people of this state should bend every energy 
towards encouraging the increase of food supplies by all of the 
people, including the women and the children. The production 
of such foodstuffs in the home garden and the use of these sup¬ 
plies or the sale of them will decrease the demand made upon 
the farmers and the large packing and distributing houses, 
thus making it possible for them to supply more food to those 
of our people who are not fortunate enough to be able to pro¬ 
duce anything and to our allies in Europe. The intensive cul¬ 
tivation of all available land by business men working after 
office hours, and by the women and children, will not only 
assist in conserving the supply needed to maintain the armies 
in the field, but will also aid the poor and unfortunate by 
helping to keep the prices of foodstuffs down to a reasonable 
figure. 

Not alone should the people be urged to produce more food¬ 
stuffs, but they should be urged to conserve the overproduc¬ 
tion which will occur, by canning and drying such fruits and 
vegetables as can be handled in this manner. 

The schools should take up seriously the subject of waste. 
The children of the rural communities should be taught con¬ 
cerning the great waste going on because of lack of care of 
farm machinery. Special efforts should be made through 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


115 


the education department of the St^te to instruct in the care 
and repair of clothing and other manufactured articles. The 
children, particularly of the well-to-do, should be made to real¬ 
ize the great waste which exists in foodstuffs in this country. 
There are many families in the State, the waste from whose 
tables alone would support half a dozen other families. The 
children should be made conscious that waste leads to an in¬ 
crease in prices, the burden of which inevitably falls upon the 
poor. The people, through the children, should be urged to 
make greater use of the services of the cobbler and the tailor 
in the repair of shoes and clothing.— E. R. Enyder. 

★★★ 

PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION 

★ ★ 

There is a world shortage of food, and America, with 
greater resources than any other nation, must do her “bit,’’ 
yea, her in producing and conserving food not only for 

home use and for the use of our boys in war, who cannot pro¬ 
duce, but for our allies who have been nonproducers, yet heavy 
consumers, for four years. Even before the war the allied 
nations did not produce enough food and feed stuff for home 
consumption. This deficit was supplied by America. Now, 
when the deficit is greater than ever, our hungry Allies are 
depending on America for food, and we must supply the needs 
of our companions in war for democracy and liberty. 

We must produce more wheat, com, coal, meat, butter and 
milk, sugar, vegetables and fruits. We must produce more of 
all kinds of food and feed stuff for ourselves and for our Allies. 
Every person, old and young, must produce more than before. 
This is no time for slackers. 

Not only must America grow more foods of all kinds, but 
she must conserve (use wisely) what she produces. The aver¬ 
age American family wastes enough to feed itself. We can 
never win the war by continuing our extravagance. We must 
learn the lessons of thrift and economy. We must eat less 
meat, butter, sugar, lard, and wheat, and we must use more 
corn, rye, vegetables, fruit, fish, potatoes, and poultry. Only 
by producing more and by observing eatless, heatless, meat¬ 
less, wheatless days can we win this war for liberty and civil¬ 
ization. 


116 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


MAXIMS ON WASTE 

■ % 

★ ★ 

1. Waste not, want not. Willful waste makes woeful want. 

2. It has always been more difficult for a man to keep than 
to get; for in the one case fortune aids, but in the other sense 
is required.— Jiasil. 

3. We often see a person deficient in cleverness rise to 
wealth; and then, from want of sense, roll head over heels to 
the bottom.— Basil. 

4. Waste not the smallest thing created, for grains of sand 
make mountains, and atoms infinities.— Knight. 

5. Waste not the smallest time in imbecile infirmity, for 
well thou knowest that seconds form eternity. 

6. Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have 
limits.— Burke. 

7. Frugality is a fair fortune; and habits of industry a 
good estate.— Franklin. 

8. By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.— 
Agesilaus. 

9. Frugality may be termecf the daughter of prudence, the 
sister of temperance, and the parent of liberty. 

10. He that is extravagant will quickly become poor, and 
poverty will enforce dependence and invite corruption.— John¬ 
son. 

11. If frugality were established in the state, there might 
be fewer w^ants, and even fe'wer pleasures, but infinitely more 
happiness. 

12. The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It 
depends chieflly on two words—industry and frugality.— 
Franklin. 

13. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do; with 
them everything. 

14. Hundreds would never have known want if they had 
not at first known waste.— Spurgeon. 

15. Economy is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and of 
ease; and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness, 
and health.—HawJcesworth. 

16. Profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that gradually 
involves her followers in dependence and debts, and so fetters 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


117 


them with irons that enter into their inmost souls.— Hawkes- 
worth. 

17. Economy is in itself a source of great revenue.— 
Seneca. 

18. Large enterprises make the few rich, but the majority 
prosper only through the carefulness and detail of thrift.— 
Mimcfer. 

19. He is already poverty stricken whose habits are not 
thrift.— Mmujer. 

20. Without economy none can be rich, and with it few will 
be poor.— Johnson. 

21. The habit of saving is itself an education; it fosters 
every virtue, teaches self-denial, cultivates the sense of order, 
trains the forethought, and so broadens the mind. 

22. Economy is half the battle of life; it is not so hard to 
earn money, as to spend it well.— Spurgemi. 

23. The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he that will 
not economize will have to agonize.— Conftvcms. 

24. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him 
that is a great waster.— Proverbs. 

25. Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great 
ship.— Franklin. 

26. The world has not yet learned the riches of frugality.— 
Fk^ero. 

27. Plough deep while sluggards sleep.— Franklin. 

28. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, 
keep his nose to the grindstone.— Franklin. 

29. The secret of thriving is thrift; over the secret of 
thrift is energy. —Charles Khufsley. 

30. The true secret of success is thrift, and principally as . 
applied to saving. —Hir Thomas JApton. 

31. If you want to know whether you are destined to be a 
success or a failure in life, you can easily find out. The test is 
simple and it is infallible; are you able to save money? If not, 
drop out. You will lose. You may think not, but you will lose 
as sure as you live. The seed of success is not in you. —James 

J. mil. ^ . ‘ 

32. Go back to the simple life, be contented with simple 

food, simple pleasures, simple clothes. Work hard, pray hard, 
play hard. Work, eat, recreate, sleep. Do it all courageously. 
We have a victory to win.— Hoover. 

33. One cannot keep his cake and eat it too. 


118 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


NO-WASTE PLEDGE 

★ ★ 

I promise in my country’s need 
To be a soldier true; 

I cannot go away to fight, 

But what I can, Fll do. 

I will be careful of the things 
I use at school or play. 

And leave no food upon my plate 
That must be thrown away. 

ril save from what I have to spend 
For “movies” and things sweet. 

To give to other children who 
Have not enough to eat. 

All this I will do cheerfully 
And not complain of it. 

Because I am an American, 

And want to “do my bit.” 

—Emily Seymour Gait. 

★★★ 

CONSERVATION VERSES 

¥ ¥ 

1 . 

To Save, to 
Serve, and to 
Sacrifice is a 
Triple Benefit 
and Blessing. 

It Serves Self, 
and Others, 
and Safeguards 
Democracy. 

2 . 

“Conserve! Conserve! is the nation’s cry, 
Save and serve and carefully buy 
Your butter and lard and meat and wheat 
To make the Kaiser taste defeat.” 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


119 


3. 

Today is wheatless, 

Tomorrow is meatless, 

White bread is a thing of the past; 

Corn meal is quite proper. 

Rye bread costs ten coppers; 

We’ll win the war tho’ we fast. 

—Thelma Grim. 

4. 

To keep our flag a-waving 
We must all be saving; 

If we win this war 
We will be free once more. 

Let’s stand by Hoover and save. 

And let Old Glory wave. 

On sugar, wheat and everything. 

Saving makes our guns go bing! 

—John Wright. 

5. 

Don’t cook too much, use just enough; 

Eat up the crust on your plate. 

The soldiers may die of starvation; 

Save now before it’s too late. 

At dinner and supper do just the same 
Then you’ll be standing by Hoover. 

If foods are saved there’s no one to blame; 
We’ll be helping our boys who’ve gone over. 

—Lester Hides. 

6 . 

Oh, how my mother fussed 
When she found the crust 
On my plate this morning! 

Said I had better take warning 

For ’twas just such a shameful waste 

That made some poor child have not a taste. 

My mother is such a miser 

Since we have started to lick the kaiser! 

We save on everything we use. 

Sugar, soap, bread, meat and shoes. 

She buys us nothing new 
But makes our old things do. 

—Helen Emerson. 


120 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


DO NOT HOARD 

Conservation does not mean hoarding. It is not money 
that we should be conserving,—it is the necessities of life. 
Money is a circulating medium only. It should be used to se¬ 
cure these necessities. Nothing could be more harmful in our 
present situation than the creating of a financial stringency 
through the hoarding of money. 

Educate and train the children against the hoarding of 
foodstuffs beyond the current need. Hoarding of foodstuffs 
when the prices begin to soar can only result in hardship and 
misery for the poor. 

The one great present project of this country is war, but 
the projects of peace should not be allowed to languish. All 
necessary educational, commercial, industrial, and agricultural 
developments should be encouraged. 

The present crisis should lead to a higher and a better form 
of democracy; to cooperative action and the welding together 
of all classes; to an ideal of service which shall include service 
to all—even the lowliest of our people.— E. R. Snyder. 

★★★ 

FOOD CONSERVATION PLAY 
★ ★ 


HeAle McConnell. 

Place: A grocery store. 

Time: About nine o'clock—the store is closed for the 
night. 

CHARACTERS 

Sugar Navy Beans Coal 

Flour Corn Meal Thrift Stamp 

Meat Honey Corn (ears) 

Syrup War Stamp Potatoes 

Sugar, Flour, Beans, Meal and Potatoes may be dressed in 
sacks which come just below the knee and fit around the neck, 
with openings for the arms, and large labels pinned on the 
front. The sacks should be filled out with paper or soft rags. 
Meat is wrapped in common brown paper. Honey and Syrup 
have a pasteboard put around them to represent cans. Thrift 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


121 


Stamp and War Stamp wear a reproduction of the stamp they 
represent, front and back. Coal dressed in black—wears new 
coal pail for helmet. 

(Sugar, Flour, and Beans begin to yawn and move out to 
the middle of room.) 

Sugar: Well, just see how large and full I am. It is all 
because the grocer will let each customer have only a tiny 
sackful. Isn’t that a strange way ? Why, I can remember 
when I used to be passed out in hundred pound lots, and made 
no fuss about it either. What do you suppose is the reason? 

Potatoes: Well, I can tell you, for I always keep my eyes 
open, and I have read all those posters that the grocer has put 
up around the store. They say that there isn’t as much sugar 
in the country as we need by a long way, and we must save 
most of it and send it across the ocean to our soldiers and the 
Allies. 

Sugar: But what do the people expect to do without 
sugar ? They need some sweet food. 

Potatoes: True enough, but according to these posters, we 
can use honey and syrups for many things instead of sugar. 
Perhaps Honey can tell us a little about herself and how she 
could be used—that is if she knows. 

Honey (stepping out): I’ve always felt as if people were 
foolish not to make more use of me. I am very good in canned 
and preserved fruits, in cakes, puddings and candies, and as a 
spread for hot cakes or biscuit I am quite delicious. My sugar 
is predigested, so it does not harm the stomach as some 
sweets do. 

Potatoes: Pretty good. Now, Syrup, what have you to 
say? 

Syrup: Well, I can claim about the same for myself as 
Honey does, except that of being predigested. I think my 
sweet would not be so good as honey for some people. 

Corn Meal: I hope you all notice what a prominent place 
I now occupy in this store. I used to be shoved back into the 
corner. Mr. Potato, do those posters say anything about me ? 

Potatoes: Yes, indeed. Several of the posters say that 
people should use com meal, oat meal, and rye, instead of 
wheat, because the wheat, too, must be sent across the ocean 
to our soldier boys. 

Com> Meal: I really feel offended to think that I am not 
selected to help feed the soldiers in France. I am sure I am 
very nutritious. 


122 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Ears of Corn: Well, I keep my ears open, and yesterday I 
heard the grocer explain to a lady that the com meal should 
not be sent over to France because it spoils if it gets damp. 
Besides, the French are not accustomed to com meal and do 
not know how to use it. 

Meat: I can appreciate what you say about the saving of 
sugar and wheat, but why do they drag me into it? This is 
none of my war. 

Beans: Oh, don't you know that you, too, are to be sent 
over the water ? 

Meat: Huh! Wouldn’t I spoil sooner than my friend. 
Corn Meal ? 

Beans: They say meat can be sent frozen or in refrigera¬ 
tor compartments. Besides, there are the dried beef, cured 
hams and bacon, which are very good for the soldiers. 

Meat: Well, I don’t see how people can do hard, manual 
labor without meat. 

Beans: They may eat poultry, fish, eggs, etc. I don’t like 
to boast, but I think they find me a pretty good substitute. 

Coal (Rattling around noisily, begins to speak): I wonder 
if any of you realize what an important place I now hold in the 
world? It used to be that people never thought much about 
me, except to telephone a dealer to send up a big load and 
charge it. I tell you now it’s different. Everyone must pay a 
high price and always cash. In some parts of the country 
there has been great suffering on account of lack of coal. Busi¬ 
ness houses and schools have been closed because it was im¬ 
possible to get coal. Corn, who uses his ears well, has just 
whispered to me that there is a shortage of fifty million tons 
in the United States. Just think how careful everyone ought 
to be! 

All (together): Who comes here? 

Flour: It is one of those queer letter stamps, which the 
postman left this afternoon for Edith, the grocer’s little 
daughter. 

Thrift Stamp (wriggling and twisting, but trying to bow 
to the others): Oh, dear. It is hard to have one’s back plas¬ 
tered to a book. But I finally twisted myself loose. 

Flour (drawing very near and looking closely at Thrift 
Stamp): What a queer letter stamp you are I 

Thrift Stamp: I am a Thrift Stamp. 

Flour, Corn Meal, Honey: Now what in the world is that? 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


123 


Thrift Stamp: Why, don’t you know? A Thrift Stamp 
costs twenty-five cents. You paste it in a little book like this. 
When you have sixteen stamps, you can take your book and 
thirteen cents to the posoffice and get one of my big sisters, 
called a War Stamp. Any child almost who tries can soon 
save enough money to buy sixteen Thrift Stamps. He doesn’t 
lose his money, you know, only lends it to the Government to 
help win the war, and Uncle Sam needs every penny he can get. 

Coal: Well, may I ask your big sister War Stamp, what 
she is good for? 

War Stamp: Oh, yes! I am worth a little over four dol¬ 
lars and can be exchanged at the postoffice for the money, but 
if I am kept till 1923 I will be worth five dollars. Uncle Sam is 
asking every one to buy War Stamps. It is a splendid invest¬ 
ment, besides being very patriotic. 

Sugar: Well, we must get back to our places, for I hear 
the grocer coming. But aren’t we glad to be having such an 
important part in the great world war? We are all proud of 
our country and are willing to make any sacrifices for her. Let 
us all together give three cheers for Uncle Sam. 

Hip, Hip, Hurrah! Hip, Hip, Hurrah! Hip, Hip, Hurrah! 

★★★ 

AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
In the Session of 1918-19'19 

★ ★ 

Prepared by J. F. Duggar, Director, Extension Service, and L. N. Duncan, 
Superintendent, Junior and Home Economics Division 
of Extension Service. 

The law of Alabama makes it compulsory for agriculture 
to be taught in every public school in the State. The teaching 
should be both by recitation and by practice. The practice 
may be either in a school garden or by means of home projects. 
Practice or laboratory work is important for its educational 
value, as a means of impressing on the student the lessons 
learned from the printed page, as giving opportunity for him 
to apply or adapt such lessons, and for developing his faculties 
of observation and adaptation. 

At this time the world’s demand for food and clothing in¬ 
creases the need for agricultural practice by school children,— 
making the increased production of agricultural commodities a 


124 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


patriotic duty. Here is one of the teacher’s opportunities to 
instill a feeling of patriotism, by encouraging each pupil to 
feel his own personal responsibility for helping to feed tHe sol¬ 
diers and the suffering civilian populations of our Allies. 

Pupils should be encouraged to keep account of the amount 
of their individual contributions to agricultural production; it 
may give to arithmetic a new attraction when the beginner is 
able to use this study as a means of determining how many 
soldiers or needy children in other lands may thus be indirectly 
served by his or her agricultural efforts. 

The School Garden 

There should be a school garden connected with every 
school in town or city and with most country schools. The 
school garden is important from an educational standpoint, 
especially in that it affords a constant and varied supply of 
material for illustrating the classroom teaching and for pro¬ 
moting habits of observation. It also provides healthful con¬ 
tact with the soil for those children who could not or would not 
till any ground at home. 

Where the Junior Red Cross embraces practically every 
pupil in the school, especially where the work in the school 
garden is done by the pupils in common without individual 
plots, the Junior Red Cross advises that the entire net pro¬ 
ceeds from such community school gardens be devoted to that 
patriotic organization. 


Home Projects 

Every teacher should systematically encourage as many 
projects as possible, for the combined purposes of : 

(1) Educational value; (2) Increased production of food 
or clothing; and (3) For revenue. 

The use to be made of the product of the home project 
must be determined by each individual child and its parents. 
The number of projects will usually be greater, and the child’s 
zeal more sustained, if the product be sold for cash and the 
child left free, under suggestion of parent or teacher, in regard 
to the method of using the funds, which may well include the 
investment of at least a part in some patriotic purpose, as for 
Red Cross, and in the purchase of thrift stamps and baby 
bonds 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


125 


Organization for Home Projects. 

Home projects will be carried on more perseveringly and 
with greater zest when the pupils are encouraged to form 
organized clubs to work under the auspices of the Extension 
Service at Auburn, Alabama. A word is here in place as to 
what the latter institution is. 

The Extension Service is an institution organized to put 
into effect a law of Congress generally known as the Smith- 
Lever Extension Act. This law provides for extension work 
(that is, work away from the college where headquarters are 
maintained) in agriculture and home economics. The Exten¬ 
sion Service is the joint representative of the U. S. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture and of the State Agricultural College, 
which latter in this State is known as the Alabama Polytech¬ 
nic Institute. 

The work of the Extension Service for boys and girls is 
done through its Division of Junior and Home Economics Ex¬ 
tension, L. N. Duncan, Superintendent, which division is only 
one of its larger branches of work. 

The county representatives of the Extension Service are 
the home demonstration agents and the farm demonstration 
agents. 

Leaders for Each Line of Club Work. 

In organizing boys’ and girls’ clubs the teacher should first 
get into communication with the county home demonstration 
agent for any work with girls and women, and with the farm 
demonstration agent for any club work pertaining to boys. 

For each separate form of club activity the State leaders, 
all of whom are members of the Extension Service, Auburn, 
are as follows: 


Boys’ iAgricuItural Clubs 

Pig and Calf Clubs. 

J. C. Ford, Auburn. 

Boys’ Crop Clubs. 

The leaders for all of these, whether corn clubs, peanut 
clubs, four-crop clubs, or others, are C. E. Newman and P. 0. 
Davis, Auburn. 


126 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Girls’ Clubs and Home Demonstration 

Miss Mary Feminear, Auburn, is the general Stat^ leader 
and supervisor for all work pertaining to girls and women. 

Home Demonstration Clubs. 

These are chiefly for farm women and are cared for espe¬ 
cially by Miss Mary Keown, Auburn. 

Canning Clubs. 

To these and related activities of girls, Miss Louise 
Thomas, Auburn, gives especial attention. 

Poultry Clubs. 

Miss Gladys Tappan, Auburn. 

There is an additional assistant home demonstration agent, 
with headquarters at Montevallo, in whose joint employment 
the Alabama Girls Technical Institute cooperates with the 
Extension Service. 

The teacher should bear in mind that the fathers of their 
pupils may be habitually in communication with other 
branches of the Extension Service at Auburn. The other 
main branches, besides those mentioned above, are Farm 
Demonstration Work, in charge of a State Farm Demonstra¬ 
tion Agent, J. T. Watt, Auburn, Alabama; a group of agricul¬ 
tural specialists at Auburn, such as the Horticulturist, the 
Agronomist or Crop Expert, the Dairy Extension Specialist, 
etc. 

All of these divisions, including the boys’ and girls’ clubs, 
are parts of a single organization, which is the Extension Serv¬ 
ice, having one director, J. F. Duggar, Auburn. 

Literature regarding any kind of clubs may be had by 
addressing Junior and Home Economics Extension, Auburn. 

Even where it may not yet be convenient for clubs to be 
formally organized, teachers should encourage pupils to send 
to Auburn their addresses as cooperators in food production. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


127 


UNITED STATES SCHOOL GARDEN ARMY 
U. S. s. G. 

WASHINGTON 

FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary CLARENCE M. WEED, Northeastern States. 

Department of the Interior. FREDERICK A. MERRILL, Southern States 

PHILANDER P. CLAXTON, Commissioner LESTER S. IVINS, Central Western States. 

Bureau of Education. CYRIL STEBBINS, Western States. 

J. H. FRANCIS, Director. JOHN L. RANDALL, South Atlantic States. 

President Wilson Asks That Every School Will Have a Regi¬ 
ment of Boys and Girls in the United States 
Volunteer War Garden Army 

It is Secretary Lane’s idea to have 5,000,000 boys and girls 
of the schools in every city, town and village in the country, 
captained by 40,000 teachers, produce as nearly as possible all 
of the vegetables, small fruits, and eggs for their home con¬ 
sumption. 

To the extent that each district is able to supply itself with 
these food products, the railways will be relieved of the burden 
of transporting them, and the Allies of the United States in 
Europe and our own soldiers on the battle front will get that 
much more of the food of which they are in need. 

In his letter which follows, the President approves the de¬ 
sign of Secretary Lane to arouse the school children of the 
United States to “as real and patriotic an effort as the building 
of ships or the firing of a cannon.” 

President Wilson’s Letter 

February 25, 1918. 

My dear Mr. Secretary: 

' I sincerely hope that you may be successful through the 
Bureau of Education in arousing the interest of teachers and 
children in the schools of the United States in the cultivation 
of home gardens. Every boy and girl who really sees what the 
home garden may mean, will, I am sure, enter into the purpose 
with high spirits, because I am sure that they would all like to 
feel that they are in fact fighting in France by joining the 
home-garden army. They know that America has undertaken 
to send meat and flour and wheat and other foods for the sup¬ 
port of the soldiers who are doing the fighting, for the men 
and women who are making munitions, and for the boys and 
girls of western Europe, and that we must also feed ourselves 
while we are carrying on this war. The movement to establish 

f 


128 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


gardens, therefore, and to have the children work in them, is 
just as real and patriotic an effort as the building of i>hips or 
the firing of cannon. I hope that this spring every school will 
have a regiment in the volunteer war-garden army. 

Cordially and sincerely yours, 
Woodrow Wii^on. 

Hon. Franklin K. Lane, 

Secretary of the Interior. 

U. S. School Garden Army 

In order to enlist in agricultural production an even larger 
number of school children than are now enrolled in organized 
clubs provision has been made for the U. S. School Garden 
Army. This plan was formulated by the U. S. Bureau of 
Education, especially for enlisting in the production of vegeta¬ 
bles, the pupils of town and city schools. Pupils of any school 
in Alabama may be enrolled. 

The organization of the U. S. School Garden Army in Ala¬ 
bama is as follows: The State Superintendent of Education is 
the administrative head for the State. Each county superin¬ 
tendent of education is the administrative head in the county, 
and should be called on by the teacher for any help needed in 
promoting enrollment and in other organization activities. 

The Extension Service at Auburn has agreed to furnish 
the necessary technical mstriudion which will be given by all 
of the following means: 

(1) By distribution to teachers of pamphlets on gardening 
for use of themselves and their pupils; 

(2) By talks and demonstrations on gardening, especially 
before groups of teachers, by the county home demonstration 
agent or the farm demonstration agent, so far as their other 
duties permit. 

(3) By lectures and demonstrations by the gardening 
specialist, from Auburn, before teachers’ institutes, and in 
other large meetings. 

The county home and farm demonstration agents should be 
called on only for help in connection with the subject matter of 
gardening. However, supervision by such agents of the agri¬ 
cultural activities of the pupils in a number of schools is not 
physically possible, even if the agent had no other duties to 
perform. For any gardening supervision outside of club work, 
the teacher should rely chiefly upon a committee of parents! 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


129 


Such committees should, in general, advise the kind of vege¬ 
tables to be planted in the school garden, the dates and meth¬ 
ods of planting, cultivation, and similar matters. Such com¬ 
mittees of three or five parents should be made up largely of 
mothers who are known as successful gardeners, and may well 
include one or more fathers. 

All members of organized girls’ clubs or boys’ clubs that 
produce food crops may also be enrolled as members of the 
U. S. School Garden Army. However, such enrollment should 
not change in any way the ordinary work of any organized 
club, nor change its name, nor its usual methods of reporting 
enrollment and results to the Extension Service at Auburn. 
Teachers should use special care to prevent confusion on this 
point, and to see that of each member of an organized boys’ or 
girls’ club should report to the Extension Service at Auburn, 
while the teacher in addition reports the total enrollment in 
the U. S. School Garden Army and a summary of its activities 
to the county superintendent of education or to the State De¬ 
partment of Education, according to later instructions. 

Abundant literature and full information about the plan of 
organization and insignia for privates, lieutenants and cap¬ 
tains may be had from the United States School Garden Army, 
Washington, D. C., F. A. Merrill, Director of Southern States. 

★★★ 

STATE OF ALABxMA 
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

MONTGOMERY 

April 17, 1918. 

To Superintendents: 

I am herewith handing you a copy of a plan of cooperation 
in the work of the U. S. School Garden Army as agreed upon 
by this department and the Extension Service of the Alabama 
Polytechnic Institute. Many of your schools have closed, per¬ 
haps, but I am hoping you will see in this movement an oppor¬ 
tunity to render your country and community a very fine type 
of patriotic service in promoting the production of food. The 
success of the movement, from its administrative standpoint, 
will rest almost entirely upon your shoulders, and in spite of 
the many calls that are being made upon you from day to day, 
I wish to urge you to undertake this work. You will please 
confer with both your County Farm Demonstration Agent and 


130 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Home Demonstration Agent, in order that a unified plan may¬ 
be started at once. 

I am advised by the authorities in Washington that litera¬ 
ture and instructions are being mailed you from time to time 
and that the insignia of the army will be sent you as soon as 
these are ready and the number necessary is made known. 
There will also be furnished you the enrollment blanks and 
other material whenever you may see fit to make application. 
In order that this department may cooperate with you, I am 
making this specific request, namely—that you furnish me 
with a list of your teachers and supervisors who will under¬ 
take this work. This in turn will be transmitted to the Bu¬ 
reau of Education for the mailing of lesson leaflets from said 
bureau. You will please bear in mind that this is a continuous 
organization and lay your plans in such a way as to include not 
only summer but fall and winter gardens. 

Bespeaking your hearty cooperation in this agency for win¬ 
ning the war, I am 

Very truly yours, 
Spright Dowell, 
Superintendent, 

Memorandum, constituting a preliminary basis of cooperation 

for the work of the United States School Garden Army in 

the State of Alabama: 

1. The work shall be done in cooperation between the 
National Bureau of Education, the State Department of Edu¬ 
cation of Alabama, and the Extension Service of the Alabama 
Polytechnic Institute. 

2. The State Department of Education shall be recognized 
as the Administrative Head of the work m Alahama and the 
Extension Service shall spply the necessary technical instruc¬ 
tion to the teachers, and such other assistance as is compatible 
with its functions of promoting food production and conserva¬ 
tion. A list of garden teachers and supervisors shall be fur¬ 
nished the Bureau of Education for the mailing of lesson leaf¬ 
lets from said bureau. 

3. For work within the separate counties, the county su¬ 
perintendent of education shall be recognized as the Adminis¬ 
trative Head and the representative of the Extension Service, 
designated by the Director of the Extension Service, who will 
usually be the Home Demonstration Agent, for each county 
shall furnish, so far as practicable, the necessary technical 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


131 


instruction. The services of the Horticultural Specialist of 
the Extension Service shall be at the command of the School 
Garden Army, either directly or thr 9 ugh the county repre¬ 
sentative of the Extension Service. 

4. In the case of cities constituting separate and indepen¬ 
dent school systems, the superintendent of the city schools 
shall be recognized as the Administrative Head of the School 
Garden Army and have the same relation to the representative 
of the Extension Service as in the case of the county superin¬ 
tendent of education. 

5. The local organizations for promoting gardening shall 
not be interfered with, but when constituted chiefly of school 
children of approximate ages 9 to 16, they may be enrolled 
either as individuals or as entire organizations, and given 
badges or insignia of the United States School Garden Army 
without interfering with the local names or previous status. 

6. In as many communities as possible, steps shall be taken 
immediately to encourage summer gardens. In view of the 
lateness of the date at which the organization of the United 
States School Garden Army was laid before the State Depart¬ 
ment of Education, and the fact that many of the schools have 
either already closed or are near the time of closing, our prin¬ 
cipal efforts shall be directed toward effecting such organiza¬ 
tions as will insure very active gardening operations next fall. 

7. Further conferences will be held between the represent¬ 
atives of the State Department of Education and of the Exten¬ 
sion Service in regard to working out details along general 
lines, as suggested in this memorandum. 

★★★ 

‘‘THE COUNTRY GIRL’S CREED” 

★ ★ 

(Recited by the Girls.) 

1. I believe that I have a right to be happy every day. 

2. I believe that God’s blue sky and God’s green earth are 
a part of my inheritance. 

3. I believe that I have a right to love little chickens and 
ducks and lambs and puppies as well as dolls and ribbons. 

4. I believe I could take care of those things as well as my 
brother, who does not love them as much as I. 


132 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


5. I believe that I would love to keep house better than 
anything else, and I only wish they taught housework at 
school. 

6. I believe that keeping a garden all my own would be 
great fun, and I believe that I could be very happy in giving 
away the flowers and in cooking the vegetables that I raised 
myself. 

7. I believe that I could study harder at my grammar and 
geography and arithmetic and spelling if I could do cooking or 
sewing with the other girls in the afternoon. 

8. I don’t want to go to town and leave my father and 
mother and my brothers and sisters to live in the city, for I 
know I shall miss them all and the trees and the creek and 
green grass and the old woods, and everything; but, oh, I don’t 
want to stay at home and do nothing but wash dishes and 
carry water and do the chores and grow old like Auntie. I 
want to laugh and love and live. 

9. I believe I can learn to sew and cook and do laundry 
work and do these things well, and I want to learn how, and I 
want to do them well. 

10. I believe in the square deal for girls as well as boys, 
and I want everybody to be happy all the time—the old as well 
as the young. 


★★★ 

THE COUNTRY BOY’S CREED 

★ ★ 

I believe that the country which God made is more beauti¬ 
ful than the city which man made; that life out-of-doors and 
in touch with the earth is the natural life of man. I believe 
that work is work wherever we And it, but that work with 
Nature is more inspiring'than work with the most intricate 
machinery. I believe that the dignity of labor depends not on 
what you do, but on how you do it; that opportunity comes to 
a boy on the farm as often as to a boy in the city, that life is 
larger and freer and happier on the farm than in the town, 
that my success depends not upon my location, but upon my¬ 
self—not upon my dreams but what I actually do, not upon 
luck, but upon pluck. I believe in working when you work and 
playing when you play and in giving and demanding a square 
deal in every act of life. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


133 


RECITATION—“COME, LET US PLANT A GARDEN” 

★ ★ 

(By a Young Boy.) 

Come, let us plant a garden, 

And tend it well until 
The dark brown soil shall show all green 
In valley and on hill. 

The weeds we will not give a place. 

The hedges shall be fair; 

Come, let us plant a garden— 

Its harvest we shall share. 

Come, let us plant a garden . 

And tend it with such care, 

The birds shall come and sing to us 
And cheer us, while the air. 

With fragrance sweet, caresses cheeks. 

Refreshes and makes glad; 

Come, let us plant a garden 
My little maid and lad. 

— Butler. 

★★★ 

GARDEN PLAY CONTESTS FOR DIFFERENT SEASONS 

★ ★ 

1. Vegetable Judging Contests— 

This may be used in the spring or fall when the garden has 
fresh vegetables in it. 

2. Story Contest— 

This contest is suitable for any season as the children may 
tell either the origin and life history of different vegetables as 
the tomato, Swiss chard, et al., or they may tell how they 
raised this vegetable, how much, they made, etc. 

3. Vegetable Spelling Contest— 

This contest is especially good just before the pupils begin 
writing their papers. 

4. Vegetable Drawing Contest— 

This contest like the first one is best to be given during the 
spring or fall while there are plenty of vegetables to be used 
as models. 

5. Vegetable Canning Contests. 

6. Paring, Labeling and Packing Contests— 

These last two contests will perhaps require the help of the 
county agent. 


134 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


RECITATION—“A GARDENING SONG” 

★ ★ 

(By a Pupil.) 

Supreme I rule in my domain, 

Teaching my subjects the way to go, 

Out in the morning, sun or rain. 

Hoeing and weeding each slender row. 
But, dwellers in gray city streets. 

How should ye ever know 
The joys that Youth and Age both share. 
Watching the garden grow? 

Flat brown beds ’neath a cloudy sky. 

My kingdom looks to your town-bred 
eyes,, 

Yet beauty to haunt each passerby 
In a few short weeks shall there arise. 
But ye who live in towers of brick. 

How should ye ever know 
The peace of mind that comes with eve. 
Watching the garden grow? 

Open my gate when May is here. 

Pass by the wall-flowers in velvet-brown, 
Wafting their welcome far and near— 
There is no perfume like that in town! 

0 pent-up folk of stony streets! 

Wait not too late to know 
All that ye miss each budding year 
Watching no garden grow. 

—Wolf. 

MY GARDEN 

And I must work thro’ months of toil. 

And years of cultivation. 

Upon my proper patch of soil 
To grow my own plantation. 

I’ll take the showers as they fall, 

I will not vex my bosom; 

Enough if at the end of all 
A little garden blossom. 


— Tennyson. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


135 


THE HOME GUARDS 


★ ★ 


CHARACTERS 


Uncle Sam (in costume) 

Tommy Thrift 

Miss Sweet 

Mr. Wheat 

Corn 

Hye 


Mrs. Cook 
Miss Pearl 
Mr. Bond 
Mr. Cole 


Mr. and Mrs. Gardner 
Five Little Gardners 


(Other children may be in costume if desired.) 

Uncle Sam (sitting at desk, pen in hand): This will never 
do. I must have more help, or we cannot win this war. I must 
get every man, woman and child in America to do his best. I 
will call my helpers and see what they can do. (Taps bell. 
Other characters come in, standing in semi-circle, until Uncle 
Sam speaks). Be seated, friends. I have called you in to see 
if you could help me. We need more ships, more coal, more 
wheat, and much more money. To get these, we will have to 
get all the people to help us. How shall we do it? 

Miss Sweet: Tell them they must help. 

Uncle Sam: But what shall we tell them to do? 

Miss Sweet: I am sure I do not know. 

Mr. Wheat: The young men have all gone to war. 

Tommy Thrift: The fathers are too busy to help us. 

Miss Pearl: And so are the mothers and the big girls. 

Mrs. Cook: There's no one else but the boys and girls, and 
they are too little to win a war. 

Uncle Sam : But I must have help. Pll tell you what we'll 
do. Will you tell us how you have helped this week? Then 
we can tell everybody else about it. 

All: Indeed we will. Uncle Sam. 

Uncle Sam: What did you do. Tommy Thrift? 

Tommy Thrift (stepping forward): I carried coal and 
kindling to the house for my mother, and she gave me a quar¬ 
ter for it. I took all of my quarters and went to the postoffice 
to buy Thrift Stamps. (Shows card of thrift stamps.) When 
I get a card full of Thrift Stamps, I am going to get a War Sav¬ 
ings Stamp and you. Uncle Sam, may use the money until the 
war is over and our soldiers come home. 

Uncle Sam: Fine! Every boy and girl in the country 
could do that. Take this banner and show it to them. “Lick a 


136 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


stamp and you will help lick the Kaiser/' (Hands him a poster 
with the words, ^XiCK a Stamp and You Will Help Lick 
THE Kaiser^^ printed on it). And you, Mrs. Cook ? 

Mrs. Cook: 

To market, to market, to buy a fresh fish! 

Serve it for dinner, as Hoover would wish! 

To market, to market, to purchase some beans! 

Bake 'em and learn what economy means. 

To market, to market, to purchase some rice! 

Eat it, and follow Friend Hoover's advice! 

—From Pictorial Review. 

That's what I've been doing. 

Uncle Sam: Oh, I see! You are going to “kill the Kaiser 
in the kitchen." We will ask all the cooks to help you. (Hands 
her a poster decorated with colored pictures of food dishes 
and bearing words: 

^HHll the Kaiser in the Kitchen.^^ 

What did you do, Mr. Bond? 

Mr. Bond: You said our country must have more money, 
so I tried to save some to loan to it. I saved this week to help 
pay for a Liberty Bond. I am going to pay a dollar each week 
until I get the Bond. 

For the soldier, the sailor, the Red Cross nurse. 

I'll give all I can, though it empty my purse. 

Uncle Sam: Good, Mr. Bond! We need your money for 
building ships. (Hands him poster.) 

^^Buy Bonds and Build Battleships.-''' 

Mr. Cole: Do you need any more coal for ships. Uncle 
Sam? 

Uncle Sam: Need coal! We need every ton we can get. 

Mr. Cole: Our family went to bed at nine o'clock almost 
every night this week and we saved a shovelful of coal each 
night. 

Uncle Sam (reads a poster as he hands it to Mr. Cole): 

^^Uncle Sam Needs that Extra Shovelful.^-' 

I wonder what you did. Miss Pearl ? 

Miss Pearl: 0 Uncle Sam, I had the 'best time! I went 
over to the Pleasant Valley School and learned to knit a 
sweater. It's just like this, knit, knit, purl, purl. 0, there! 
I've dropped a stitch again. I'll have to go back again and 
have Miss Benton pick it up for me. 

Uncle Sam: Hang this banner where all women can see it.. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


137 


^^CoME TO Pleasant Valley School and Knit Wednesday 
Afternoon.'’-’ 

(Poster decorated with knitting pictures.) 

You have always been a good friend, Mr. Wheat. What 
can you do for us now ? 

Mr. Wheat: Well, Uncle Sam, I have thought it all over, 
and I believe it is my duty to go across the ocean and help our 
friends over there. I must ask you folks at home to get along 
without me. 

Uncle Sam: We are sorry, Mr. Wheat, to have you go, but 
we are sure Corn and Rye will help us out until you come back. 

Corn and Rye (together) : 

Corn and rye will surely try 
To do their best for you, sir; 

They’ll save the wheat, they’ll save defeat. 

They’ll beat the kaiser, too, sir. 

(Uncle Sam hands them a banner.) 

^^Save Wheat, Save Defeat.-’-’ 

Miss Sweet: Dear Uncle Sam, I do want to help and I 
have tried to do my bit. I know I used to spend all my pennies 
for candy and gum, but after this, I am going to save them and 
buy Thrift Stamps like his. (Pointing to Tommy Thrift’s.) 

Uncle Sam: If you can get all the other boys and girls to 
do that, it will mean thousands of dollars for us. (Hands her 
a banner.) 

^^Do Your Bit.^^ 

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner: We decided to turn our backyard 
into a garden, and the whole family is going to work in it. We 
are going to plant corn and potatoes. 

First Child: I am going to plant onions. 

Second Child: 0 pooh! I don’t like onions. I am going 
to raise a hundred bushels of beans. 

Third Child: I am going to raise bananas. I just love 
bananas. 

Fourth Child: 0 Buddy, you can’t raise bananas! The 
war would be over before you would get any bananas. Let’s 
raise peanuts. 

Third Child: All right! 

Fifth Child: I'm going to dig fish-worms and go fishing. 

Uncle Sam: Ha! Ha! Ha! If every family makes as good 
use of their backyards, we will have plenty of food for the sol¬ 
diers. (Gives them banner.) 


138 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


^‘Food is Ammunition. Don^t Waste It/^ 
Dear Friends, you have made me feel very happy.^ 
sure that with your help we will win this war. 

All (children standing): 

Our soldier boys are at the front 
They’re doing all they can; 

If those at home will do as much— 

Hurrah for Uncle Sam. 

★★★ 

A PRAYER 

Now I lay me down to sleep, 

I pray the Lord my soul to keep. 

God bless my brother gone to war 
Across the seas, in France, so far. 

Oh, may his fight for Liberty, 

Save millions more than little me 
From cruel fates or ruthless blast, 

And bring him safely home at last. 

★★★ 

CORN BREAD 

★ 

(An exercise for eight small boys.) 

First Boy, with a handful of corn grains— 

This is the seed 
So yellow and round. 

That little Juan Roque hid in the ground. 

Second Boy, showing several corn blades— 

These are the leaves. 

So graceful and tall. 

That grew from the seed so yellow and small. 

Third Boy, with a whole stalk of corn— 

This is the stalk 
That came up between 
The leaves so pretty and graceful and green. 


I am 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 139 

Fourth Boy, carrying a bunch of corn tassels_ 

These are the tassels, 

So flowery that crowned 

The stalk, so smooth, so strong, so round. 

Fifth Boy, showing corn silk— 

This is the silk 
In shining threads spun: 

A treasure it hides from the rain and sun. 

Bixth Boy, with husks— 

These are the husks. 

With satin inlaid, 

That grew ^neath the tassels that drooped and swayed. 

Seventh Boy, with whole ears of corn— 

This is the treasure— 

Corn yellow as gold— 

That satin and silk so softly unfold. 

Eighth Boy, showing a piece of corn bread— 

This is the bread. 

For children to eat. 

Made from the corn so yellow and sweet. 

—Adapted from the Missouri School Journal. 

E. J. M. 

★★★ 


A CREED FOR PROGRESSIVE FARMERS 

★ ★ 

(Read by a Farmer Friend.) 

I believe in Myself —believe that whatever mistakes I 
may or may not have made heretofore, I am endowed with 
limitless possibilities for growth, struggle, triumph, and devel¬ 
opment—making each today better than its yesterday and 
each tomorrow better than today. 

I believe in My Work- —believe it offers opportunities as an 
industry, requiring faithful labor; as a profession, requiring 
scientific knowledge; as a business, requiring commercial abil¬ 
ity—each with its challenge and its reward. 

I believe in My Farm —believe I can make it rich with 
stored fertility; believe I can make it beautiful with well-kept 
fields, luxuriant crops, and grazing herds; and believe that the 


140 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


homestead, whether cottage or mansion, can be made glorious 
with a wealth of tree and vine and shrub and blossom. ^ 

I believe in My Family —believe that love in the home is 
God’s best gift to earth, and that to rear noble sons and daugh- 
trs—with strong bodies, trained minds, clean hearts and 
cheerful spirits—is the highest achievement in life. 

I believe in My Neighborhood —believe that by keeping 
everlastingly at it I can get such cooperation from young and 
old as will make it a better and better place to live in; and that 
whether neighbors help or hinder, it is my duty to give home 
thought every day and do some work every week for the im¬ 
provement of schools, roads, churches, social life, business co¬ 
operation, and all the agencies of rural comradeship and 
brotherhood, knowing that sooner or later the sowing will 
bring its harvest. 

And finally, I believe in My Creator and Father —believe 
it is His will—that His kingdom should come on earth—and 
come here in my own particular nook of earth—and that in my 
every aspiration toward this end, I am a coworker with Him 
whose power knows no defeat.— Clarence Poe. 

★★★ 

THE FARMER’S PART IN THE WAR 

★ ★ 

Although we worked hard for three years to escape the 
demon of war, he has now seized us firmly in his grip. We are 
at war with a nation that is an outlaw against civilization; a 
nation that hates us and has shown this on many occasions; a 
nation that has used all of its resources to bring the Monroe 
Doctrine into disrepute and disgrace; a nation that hates us 
because of our social and political creed; because of the spirit 
we have, the law we respect, and that we have placed ourselves 
against its set purpose to dominate the world; a nation that 
has marked itself by violence, that has lived by the sword 
since it came from the shadows of history down to the present 
time; a nation that has cast off the true God with His doctrine 
of love, faith, charity, and mercy, and set up in His stead the 
God of Force; a nation that frankly defends the law of the jun¬ 
gle-might makes right—the survival of the fittest. It is in 
unrestrained obedience to the spirit of this law that individual 
and national honor, justice, Christian charity, morality, and 


OP PATRIOTIC INSTRCTION. 


141 


innocent childhood and womanhood have been sacrificed in a 
manner that exceeds the basest impulse of the savage. 

We have adopted a selective draft system to raise our 
army, a system which has for its purpose the placing of every 
citizen where he can help most. Our boys between the ages of 
21 and 31 have been drafted to serve on the battlefield, those 
of us who are left behind serve at the base of supply—on the 
farm, in the factory, and in the kitchen. We must either fight 
or produce. It is the farmer’s sacred duty to produce. 

We cannot win the war without food. We must not only 
supply food for our own boys, but in large quantities, for our 
Allies. Ammunition for stomachs must be had before ammu¬ 
nition for guns. History shows that more nations have been 
conquered by starvation than by sword and the food supply is 
of first importance in the war. It is in view of this fact that 
our President has called upon you to exert your greatest effort 
for production and has said that the fate of our nation and of 
humanity is in your hands. Never before has any class of 
persons occupied such a position. You are not only serving 
your homes, your country and humanity, but you are adding 
wealth to your pockets and honor to your calling. 

Mr. Farmer, you will probably plant about one-fourth of 
your crop in cotton, since the world demands this of you, but 
you will do so' at a sacrifice, since your food and feed crops 
have netted you from ten to twenty-five dollars more per acre 
than your cotton crop. Do not be deceived by its thirty to 
thirty-five cents per pound offerings: it is an expensive crop 
and labor is now scarce. Last year, with favorable conditions, 
it netted you on the average only $40 per acre. 

Patriotism and good business judgment demand that you 
produce food and feed crops. Plant more corn than you did 
last year, and produce all the beans, peas, potatoes, hay, mo¬ 
lasses, livestock, vegetables, and fruits you can. You will find 
it profitable to market as much of your feedstuffs as you can 
through livestock as we and our Allies are in great need of 
meat. Meat is a two-edged sword with which to do battle with 
the Kaiser. -Produce enough food for your home consumption 
and a surplus for your sons at the battle front, and you will 
prove yourselves worthy of the great task entrusted to you. 

And now a word to the housewife. You are as truly enlist¬ 
ed for service as are your husband and son. Mr. Hoover has 
said that the war is to be won in the kitchens. You can con¬ 
serve by using as much food of a perishable nature as possible 


142 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


instead of large quantities of beef, pork, fats, wheat, milk 
products, sugar, etc. The United States Food Administration 
is publishing much valuable literature each week to aid house¬ 
wives in this all important work. Any information that you 
may desire concerning food conservation can be had for the 
asking. The government is furnishing you equipment for 
service just as it is your boys at the front. If you reject it, you 
are guilty of the same offense as the soldier who refuses to 
serve. 

The Kaiser, proud of the success of his scheme of robbery 
in Russia, aired himself in this fashion: 

‘The complete victory fills me with gratitude. It permits 
us to live again one of those great moments in which we can 
reverently admire God’s hand in history.” 

Insolent infidel! With the active help of all our citizenship 
—soldier, farmer, worker, banker—he will accept in humilia¬ 
tion the dictate of the God of love whom he and his nation 
have so often blasphemed. 


★★★ 

EMERGENCY WAR CALL 

★ ★ 

To Wipe Out Illiteracy Among Men of Draft Age. 

When increments of the new National Army began pouring 
into the training camps the military authorities were as¬ 
tounded at the large per cent of drafted men who could neither 
read nor write. These men were from the beginning handi¬ 
capped from the standpoint of efficient service; often embar¬ 
rassed among their fellow comrades, and deprived of the one 
sweet solace of the soldier writing a letter home. 

Work of Y. M. C. A. 

The Y. M. C. A. undertook to organize these men into 
classes in the different camps. While in some respects the 
work was unsatisfactory on account of the primary camp ac¬ 
tivities, a great deal was accomplished and interesting have 
been the stories related by those in charge of the work. 

Emergency Campaign. 

Realizing there are still a vast number of unlettered men 
within our borders waiting to answer the call to colors the Ala- 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


143 


bama Illiteracy Commission, of which ex-Gov. William D. 
Jelks is chairman, in cooperation with the State Department 
of Education several weeks ago launched a state-wide cam¬ 
paign, the purpose of which is to reach every illiterate man of 
draft age and provide for his being taught to read and write. . 

During the past few weeks practical experiments as to 
what can be done in interesting these unlettered men have 
been made in several counties. 

Over two hundred and fifty have received instruction in 
Jefferson county, over one hundred are known to be at work 
in Covington, practically all in class one of the draft have been 
taught in Madison and Conecuh and good reports have come in 
from other counties. On account of the busy season, it has 
been impossible to organize many classes, so most of the work 
has been done through individuals; often some member of the 
family or a neighbor has acted as teacher. 

The steps in the Covington county campaign were as fol¬ 
lows: 

1. Netvspaper Puhlicity. 

2. County Conferences. 

A conference of citizens interested in the work was called. 
A special invitation to attend this conference was extended to 
every school trustee, minister and teacher in the county. At 
this conference the purpose of the campaign was explained and 
all urged to cooperate in every way possible. 

3. Ta hula tion of Naiiles. 

The name and address of every illiterate registered man in 
the county was secured from the questionnaires and placed on 
a separate card. These names were sorted by school districts 
by the aid of the rural route mail carriers and turned over to 
the representatives from the different districts at the county 
conference. 

4. Jhihlic Meetinys. 

About twenty meetings were held in different parts of the 
county for the purpose of putting the object and plan of the 
campaign before the people and securing their cooperation. 

5. Letter to IlUterate Reyistered Men. 

A letter was sent out to each illiterate registered man call¬ 
ing his attention to the work and urging him to put forth an 
effort to find someone to teach him. 


144 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


6. Personal Wor k. 

A great deal of personal work was done. It was found nec¬ 
essary to go into the fields and homes of quite a number of the 
men and talk with them personally. 

7. Follow-up Letters and Questionnaires. 

Follow-up letters and questionnaires were sent out in order 
to keep in touch with what was being done. 

8. Repoi't Cards. 

Report cards were sent to one trustee in each district in 
order that he could send in a weekly report of the work in his 
community. 

9. Illiterate Men Called Together. 

The campaign reached its climax in a meeting held May 
18th at Andalusia in the county courthouse. Letters had been 
mailed in advance to every illiterate registered man in the 
county urging his attendance at the meeting and over one hun¬ 
dred and fifty responded to the call. This was perhaps the 
most unique educational gathering ever witnessed within the 
State. 

Some of the men who had been studying during spare mo¬ 
ments for several weeks were present with specimens of their 
work and expressed a pathetic gratitude to those who had 
made their progress possible. Eighteen letters previously 
received by the committee in charge of the work, from once 
unlettered men were exhibited and the advancement of the 
writers won the admiration of all present. 

10. Follow-up Work. 

The committee is continuing to keep in close touch with 
the work through letters, visits and meetings. 

11. Cooperating Agencies. 

Among the agencies that have been especially enthusiastic 
in their cooperation and have lent valuable assistance should 
be named, the County Board of Education, the local Exemp¬ 
tion Board, churches and ministers, women’s clubs, postal 
employees, and many patriotic individuals. 

The State Council of Defense recognizes this movement as 
of fundamental importance and will lend its support to the 
work by putting a number of volunteer workers in the field to 
organize the counties for a more determined drive against 
illiteracy. Cooperating with them, the Advisory War Council 


OF PBLIC INSTRUCTION. 


145 


of the Alabama Educational Association, the Alabama Illiter¬ 
acy Commission, and the school teachers and officials will 
undertake to see that every illiterate man of draft age shall 
have the opportunity to learn to read and write before enter¬ 
ing the army. 

Chairman Hooper of the State Council of Defense has ap¬ 
pointed the following committee to direct the work: 

Supt. Spright Dowell, Chairman; Hon. Wm. D. Jelks, Hon. 
J. B. Ellis, Hon. C. W. Daugette; Hon. A. F. Harman, General 
Secretary. 

The following ten field representatives have expressed 
their willingness to undertake the voluntary war service of 
launching campaigns in the ten districts created, thereby put¬ 
ting themselves in the famous “dollar a year’" class: 

Dr. T. W. Palmer, President Alabama Girls' Technical 
Institute, Montevallo. 

Dr. G. W. Brock, President State Normal School, Living¬ 
ston. 

Dr. C. W. Daugette, President State Normal School, Jack¬ 
sonville. 

Dr. E. M. Shackelford, President State Normal School, 
Troy. 

Prof. W. R. Harrison, Supt. City Schools, Montgomery. 

Mrs. W. K. Linscott, Member Alabama Illiteracy Commis¬ 
sion, Mobile. 

Prof. Raleigh W. Greene, President Moundville Normal 
School. 

Prof. J. T. McKee, State Normal School, Florence. 

Prof. S. 0. White, Supt. City Schools, Opelika. - 

Supt. S. R. Butler, County Superintendent Madison County. 

The Alabama Illiteracy Commission continues the services 
of Miss Esther Foster, Field Agent and Mr. H. G. Dowling, 
Special Agent of the Commission, during the term of this 
campaign. 

It is suggested that, in making plans for launching a coun¬ 
ty campaign, the following persons be organized as a central 
committe : 

Chairman County Council of Defense. 

County Superintendent of Education. 

Probate Judge. 

Representative of Federation of Women's Clubs. 

County Farm Demonstration Agent. 

County Home Demonstration Agent. 


146 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


County Health Officer. , 

Leading ministers and teachers. 

The success of the campaign will depend largely upon the 
selection of a county campaign manager to be chosen by this 
central committee. Where a wise choice is made in this county 
manager, the various organizations and agencies interested in 
the campaign will be able to come to his assistance with an 
amount of influence that should insure success. 

★★★ 

SOME PATRIOTIC TERMS EXPLAINED 

★ ★ 

Constructive patriotism has as its basic principle the belief 
that each individual in the United States of America has a 
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as guaran¬ 
teed by our Constitution. Therefore every means must be 
used to create an undivided and effective national spirit so that 
every citizen and individual will feel his or her responsibility 
and answer the call to the Nation's needs. 

Following are a few broad definitions along patriotic lines 
of words and expressions often heard and seen in these days 
when our Union is fighting for its right to exist. 

United States of America— 

United—made one. 

State — 

Any body of people occupying a definite territory and polit¬ 
ically organized under one government. 

America— 

The definite territory which our country occupies. 

States Rights— 

Each state has a right to make its laws. 

Centralized Government— 

The need which all the states felt to have some general, 
broad rules which should benefit the states as a whole. This 
need resulted in the framing of the Constitution—a set of pre¬ 
cepts and rules which govern the states as a nation. 

Forty-eight clocks in one room striking different hours 
when and how they please are all set to strike at the same 
time giving us union. 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


147 


Autocracy— 

A state in which the laws governing all the people are 
made by one man who has supreme power. 

Democracy or a Republic— 

A state or group of states in which the laws governing all 
the people are made by the great body of adult inhabitants 
who elect representatives to pass the laws. 

Franchise— 

The right to vote, which is given to the great body of adult 
inhabitants of the United States of America, and which they 
lose only when they do not pay their poll tax, commit a crime 
which shows they are not fit to vote, or are guilty of treason. 

Treason— 

A breach of allegiance in giving comfort and aid to an 
enemy when you are enjoying the protection of the laws of the 
United States of America. 

Serve America First— 

The slogan of every good and true American. 

Serve Humanity— 

Take care of the weak of the whole human race wherever 
found. 

Emblem— 

The visible sign of “Liberty and Union, now and forever, 
one and inseparable.’' Our flag, the grand old Stars and 
Stripes. 

The Administration— 

The political party which is managing the affairs of the 
nation as exemplified by President Wilson. 

Conservation— 

Official care of all the natural resources of our country. 
Food Conservation— 

Official regulation of the food supply of the nation so that 
everyone, poor or rich, may have only his share. 

National Assets— 

Farms, mines, schools, towns, men, women, children, 
money, work, brains and, last but not least, God. 


148 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Allies— 

All nations fighting against our common enemy, Germany, 
and helping us win the war. 

Over There— 

Anywhere that our soldier boys are fighting to keep the 
Germans from getting “Over Here’’ to hurt their loved ones. 

I. w. W.— 

Industrial Workers of the World. Considered a dangerous 
and treasonable organization because it advocates the de¬ 
struction of all our national resources (as given above) ; since 
it is opposed to our war with Germany. It is strongly suspect¬ 
ed that this organization receives its money from Germany, 
our enemy. 

Bolsheviki— 

The government now ruling in Russia. This government, 
socialistic in nature, we hope will make a stable form of rules 
so that Russia may emerge from the terrible trouble which 
License rather than Liberty always brings on a people. 

License— 

Excess of liberty; freedom abused or used in contempt of 
law and peace; disregard for life and property. 

Liberty— 

Freedom to do as your conscience says, provided you give 
your neighbor the same right. The right to share in framing 
and conducting the government under which we are organized. 

Daniel Webster has said of liberty: “Liberty exists only 
in proportion to wholesome restraint.” “God grants liberty 
only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and 
defend it.” “The people’s government made for the people, 
made by the people and answerable to the people.” “I was 
bom an American; I will live an American; I shall die an 
American.” 


OF PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


149 


WAR AIMS OF THE UNITED STATES 

★ ★ 

Recognition of the rights and liberties of small nations. 

Recognition of the principle that government derives its 
just power from the consent of the governed. 

Reparations for wrongs done and the erection of adequate 
safeguards to prevent their being committed again. 

No indemnities except as payment for manifest wrongs. 

No people to be forced under a sovereignty under which it 
does not wish to live. 

No territory to change hands except for the purpose of 
securing those who inhabit it a fair chance of life and liberty. 

No readjustments of power except such as will tend to se¬ 
cure the future peace of the world and the future welfare and 
happiness of its peoples. • 

A genuine and practical cooperation of the free peoples of 
the world in some common covenant that will combine their 
forces to secure peace and justice in the dealing of nations 
with one another. 


★★★ 

ALABAMA DIRECTORY OF LEADING OFFICIALS OF 
WAR ORGANIZATIONS 

★ ★ 

Treasury Department—War Loan Organization: Hon. W. 
C. Wardlaw, Chrmn. Southeastern Div. Federal Reserve Bank, 
Atlanta, Ga.: Hon. W. D. Wellborn, Alabama Representative, 
State Council of Defense, Montgomery, Ala. 

National War Savings Committee: Hon. Crawford John¬ 
son, Room 233, First National Bank Bldg., Birmingham, Ala. 

Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Extension Serv¬ 
ice: Dr. J. F. Duggar, Auburn, Ala. 

Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges: Dr. C. C. Thach, 
Auburn, Ala. . 

Department of Labor—U. S. Employment Service: Hon. 
Geo. B. Tarrant, Birmingham, Ala. 

U. S. Public Service Reserve—Hon. Ray Rushton, Mont¬ 
gomery, Ala. 


150 


ALABAMA HANDBOOK 


Council of National Defense—Woman’s Committee: Mrs. 

James F. Hooper, Selma, Ala. 

Food Administration: Hon. Richard M. Hobbie, Montgom¬ 
ery, Ala. 

Fuel Administration: Hon. S. P. Kennedy, Anniston, Ala. 

Red Cross: Hon. Leigh Carroll, Div. Manager, American 
Red Cross, P. 0. Bldg., New Orleans, La.; Hon. Oscar Wells, 
Chairman, Second Red Cross Drive, Alabama, Birmingham, 
Ala. 

Four-Minute Men: Hon. T. J. Crittenden, Chairman, Bir¬ 
mingham, Ala. 

State Council of Defense: Hon. L. M. Hooper, Chairman, 
State Capitol, Montgomery, Ala. 

★★★ 

WHERE HELP MAY BE HAD 

★ ★ 

Textbook for speakers on Thrift Stamps and War Stamps: 
The Treasury Department, National War Savings Committee, 
Washington, D. C. 

U. S. Government War Savings Stamps: Bulletin W. S. 
113, Washington, D. C. 

Committee on Patriotism Through Education: National 
Security League, New York City. 

Committee on Public Information: 10 Jackson Place, 
Washington, D. C. 

Junior Membership Red Cross: A. R. C. Bulletin 601. 

Manual on War Relief Activities for School: A. R. C. Bul¬ 
letin 6021. 

W. J. Leppert, Director, Bureau of Development. Ameri¬ 
can Red Cross, P. 0. Building, New Orleans, La. 

Red Cross Magazine, Garden City, Long Island, N. Y. $2.00 
per year, including membership. 

Red Cross Dogs, The Child’s World Fifth Reader. B. F. 
Johnson Publishing Co., Richmond, Va. 


OP PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION. 


161 


Home Gardening in the South, Bulletin 934, Alabama Ex¬ 
periment Station, Auburn, Alabama. 

School flags may be obtained from either of the following 
firms: 

The Murray School Supply Co., 2113 Third Ave., Birming¬ 
ham, Ala. 

Educational Exchange Co., Title Guarantee Building, Bir¬ 
mingham, Alabama. 


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